SIX FIRE UNITS CALLED TO BLAZE IN KILDORRERY
A wildfire outside of Kildorrery on Tuesday led to six different units of the fire brigade being called to fight the blaze, which occurred north of the village in the Knockanevin direction.
The fire, which one source said appeared to be deliberate, was noticed in the early afternoon and the fire brigade called. The same source, a local resident, said that the fire came ‘quite close’ to a house.
According to Mitchelstown Fire Station Officer Bob Dalton, it is the same location where a fire took place a few months ago.
Units from Mitchelstown, Fermoy, Mallow, Charleville, Kilmallock and Rathkeale all attended the scene, and Mr Dalton reported that the fire was brought under control quickly. The fire happened after a dry and warm spell that left vegetation ‘bone dry’.
The fine weather of the past fortnight is due to come to an end this week, but with an average of 245 calls annually relating to forest fires dealt with by the Cork county fire services, the danger of such a fire is never too far away. Bob Dalton of Mitchelstown Fire Station gave some advice for those out walking the hills, to help avoid unintentionally starting a fire.
“The damage from wildfire is huge, both to wildlife and the land, and I would urge people to call the emergency services as soon as you see fire or smoke, and do not leave it to someone else. In my experience, during the day everyone sees the smoke and no one calls us, and then at night time they get a bit more worried and you could get 20 calls all at once.”
Mr Dalton is at pains to reassure the public too that there is definitely no charge owed by the person who makes the call, so don’t let that worry stop anyone.
Most of these fires are malicious, but the danger presented by glass bottles to ignite tender grassland and gorse is still there, as with the discarded cigarette butt.
“Another culprit would be people lighting barbeques, which is actually illegal without the landowner’s consent anyway.”
In one incident witnessed locally, a group who had a fire lit at the beach packed up their belongings, quenched the fire (or so they thought) and left to go home. Some two hours later, people on the beach saw smoke still smouldering. The grass beneath the dry straw on top was on fire, and the whole field could have ignited if the fire was not extinguished by those present.
Bob asks everyone to enjoy themselves on their Climb With Charlie this weekend, and if anyone notices fire or smoke to please call the qualified emergency personnel to deal with the incident, sooner rather than later.