Coillte continues investigating Glanteenassig blaze
COILLTE said investigations are ongoing after a suspected gorse fire in west Kerry damaged forestry in hugely popular Glanteenassig Wood park two weeks ago.
The blaze lasted through the night of March 30 through to the next morning and covered around 100 acres of land between Aughacasla and Glanteenassig. A Coillte spokesperson told The Kerryman that some eight acres of second-rotation forestry were damaged on the north-west side of Glanteenassig park.
“The fire started outside of the Coillte boundary on gorse lands the night before, and only in the morning entered the forestry,” Coillte said in response The Kerryman queries. “The area is just off the loop road, which is away from the main walking trails.
“We are currently investigating the fire at this time... We have had no other fires to date that have effected Coillte forests or recreation sites in Kerry”.
This followed a statement in which Coillte reminded the public that its forest car parks are closed, and the forests themselves are only open to those living within two kilometres. It also urged people to avoid all outdoor fires and other open ignition sources, and asked landowners to obey land-burning restrictions.
“This is especially important as, due to the prolonged spell of dry weather, there is an increased risk of fire around forest parks and recreational sites,” the statement read. “The Department of Agriculture, Food and Marine has issued a national high fire risk rating this week for all areas where hazardous fuels such as dead grasses, and shrub fuels such as heather and gorse exist.”
The statement also condemned those who start such gorse fires for diverting “vital emergency services away from focusing on the Covid-19 pandemic, putting unnecessary pressure on emergency services and placing lives at risk”.
Coillte’s largest Kerry sites are in Glanteenassig, Rossacroo, Glanageenty, Caragh Lake, Killaclohane, Lickeen, Dromore, Glanawaddra and the Pike Wood. It has smaller sites in Kilderry, Ballaghisheen, Kimego, Gleensk, Ballygamboon, and Doolaig.