The Kerryman (South Kerry Edition)
PLAYING WITH FIRE
Fire service warns somebody will be killed as yet another illegal gorse fire rages on the hills around Killarney
SIXTY six days after the legal deadline of March 1 for burning gorse expired, fires continue to rage across the county bringing apocalyptic scenes to the landscape.
In a week that saw houses burned to the ground in other parts of the country because of illegal gorse fires, fire services were stretched to the limit during the extended dry spell. Environmentalists said damage to wildlife caused by fires blazing so late in the year is devastating.
The latest fire happened at Faugh just outside Killarney on Saturday night when Killarney fire personnel needed the assistance of the Killorglin Fire Service to battle the blaze.
“The latest fire at Faugh was a substantial one and we battled it from 10.30pm until 2.30am on Sunday morning. The fires are happening later this year. Normally, fires start to decline in late April but the first week in May is extremely late,” said Killarney Fire Station Officer, Mark Brady. “The fire tied up both my crews. If there had been a fire or a traffic accident in the town we would have been delayed. It was only after the assistance from Killorglin that I was able to free up a few of our lads,” he said.
Killarney Superintendent Flor Murphy said that, as of yet, there have been no prosecutions and he pleaded with the public to come forward with information.
“Our investigations are ongoing and at the moment we have no major developments... We rely on people to be responsible and compliant with the laws and we would ask anyone with information to contact us at Killarney Garda Station.”
Meanwhile, Oonagh Duggan of BirdWatch Ireland said gorse fires are causing massive damage to wildlife. “Birds in upland heather areas start their nesting activity in early March. This is almost two and half months later and we know that nests and other wildlife such as frogs and hares are being destroyed. Not enough is being done about this.”