Menu
23/04/2010
Fires Breaks Sought After Bogland Blaze
A Fine Gael TD has called for the creation of 'fire breaks' after a bonfire-sparked blaze, which had forced the closure of a section of main road in Mayo, was finally this morning brought under control.
The road was closed after thick plumes of smoke from the fire made it unsafe for motorists between Belmullet and Bangor Erris while several hundred acres of bogland were damaged by the blaze.
A spokesman for Mayo Fire Service said several units of the Brigade were needed to get the blaze under control.
Fine Gael Kerry Senator, Paul Coghlan, this morning announced he has written to the Minister for the Environment to ask him to ensure that adequate fire breaks are created at the beginning of each burning season in and around Killarney National Park so that future devastation, caused by the outbreak of wild fires, can be avoided.
The call comes on the back of several serious fires last week, with current conditions making it difficult to extinguish bog and forest fires.
Yesterday, extensive damage is reported to have been caused by forest fires in Connemara as Fire fighters in Co Galway were called out last night in an attempt to bring this year's bog fires near the village of Moycullen under control.
Meanwhile last week fire teams and locals found it difficult to extinguish a fire on over 1,860 acres of heather and furze between Ard na gCoistí and the foot of Mangerton Mountain in the heart of Killarney National Park, which also led to extensive damage.
Senator Coghlan said: "I have written to Minister Gormley to ask him to ensure that proper fire breaks are cut at the beginning of each burning season as the threat to houses that dot the edge of the commonage and the local flora and fauna is enormous.
“It is recommended that the Fire Service and Killarney National Park should liaise with the local community to ensure this situation is kept under control.
"Furthermore it has been suggested that information brochures should be circulating to every household in Muckross now and annually before the beginning of each burning season.
“We cannot sit idly by and wait until it's too late. The Minister must address this issue before the worst case scenario happens where the natural environment, houses in Muckross and ultimately human lives go up in smoke."
A spokesman for Mayo Fire Service appealed to landowners and others in the area not to start fires on their own land as it has become extremely difficult to get bog and forest fires under control over the past four days.
Meanwhile, up North, About 50 firefighters are tackling a large gorse fire on Slieve Donard Mountain near Newcastle in Co Down.
(DW/BMcc)
The road was closed after thick plumes of smoke from the fire made it unsafe for motorists between Belmullet and Bangor Erris while several hundred acres of bogland were damaged by the blaze.
A spokesman for Mayo Fire Service said several units of the Brigade were needed to get the blaze under control.
Fine Gael Kerry Senator, Paul Coghlan, this morning announced he has written to the Minister for the Environment to ask him to ensure that adequate fire breaks are created at the beginning of each burning season in and around Killarney National Park so that future devastation, caused by the outbreak of wild fires, can be avoided.
The call comes on the back of several serious fires last week, with current conditions making it difficult to extinguish bog and forest fires.
Yesterday, extensive damage is reported to have been caused by forest fires in Connemara as Fire fighters in Co Galway were called out last night in an attempt to bring this year's bog fires near the village of Moycullen under control.
Meanwhile last week fire teams and locals found it difficult to extinguish a fire on over 1,860 acres of heather and furze between Ard na gCoistí and the foot of Mangerton Mountain in the heart of Killarney National Park, which also led to extensive damage.
Senator Coghlan said: "I have written to Minister Gormley to ask him to ensure that proper fire breaks are cut at the beginning of each burning season as the threat to houses that dot the edge of the commonage and the local flora and fauna is enormous.
“It is recommended that the Fire Service and Killarney National Park should liaise with the local community to ensure this situation is kept under control.
"Furthermore it has been suggested that information brochures should be circulating to every household in Muckross now and annually before the beginning of each burning season.
“We cannot sit idly by and wait until it's too late. The Minister must address this issue before the worst case scenario happens where the natural environment, houses in Muckross and ultimately human lives go up in smoke."
A spokesman for Mayo Fire Service appealed to landowners and others in the area not to start fires on their own land as it has become extremely difficult to get bog and forest fires under control over the past four days.
Meanwhile, up North, About 50 firefighters are tackling a large gorse fire on Slieve Donard Mountain near Newcastle in Co Down.
(DW/BMcc)
Related Irish News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.
23 April 2019
Donegal Gorse Fires Brought Under Control
A large gorse fire that raged in County Donegal on Monday has been brought under control, according to a County Council official. The wildfire broke out at around 6am, with 15 fire appliances working to manage it at its height. An Air Corps helicopter joined the efforts yesterday evening, dropping 42,000 litres of water onto the gorse.
Donegal Gorse Fires Brought Under Control
A large gorse fire that raged in County Donegal on Monday has been brought under control, according to a County Council official. The wildfire broke out at around 6am, with 15 fire appliances working to manage it at its height. An Air Corps helicopter joined the efforts yesterday evening, dropping 42,000 litres of water onto the gorse.
21 April 2010
Three Die In Separate House Fires
Two men and a woman have died in three separate house fires in Limerick and Kerry. In the latest incident, a man in his 60s died following a house fire in Tralee in Co Kerry. The fire broke out in the terraced house in Connolly Park at about 9.30pm yesterday. Gardaí were called to the scene at around 9.
Three Die In Separate House Fires
Two men and a woman have died in three separate house fires in Limerick and Kerry. In the latest incident, a man in his 60s died following a house fire in Tralee in Co Kerry. The fire broke out in the terraced house in Connolly Park at about 9.30pm yesterday. Gardaí were called to the scene at around 9.
17 June 2009
Fires Claim Two Irish Lives
An elderly woman has died following a Dublin house fire. The blaze was in the Sutton area, in the north of the capital and broke out at a house on Offington Drive at around 11pm. A woman in her 70s was alone in the house at the time and was rushed to Beaumont Hospital, but died a short time later.
Fires Claim Two Irish Lives
An elderly woman has died following a Dublin house fire. The blaze was in the Sutton area, in the north of the capital and broke out at a house on Offington Drive at around 11pm. A woman in her 70s was alone in the house at the time and was rushed to Beaumont Hospital, but died a short time later.
18 July 2019
New National Train Control Centre Approved
Ireland's rail services will be expanded over the coming years following the approval of a new National Train Control Centre, the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Shane Ross, has announced.
New National Train Control Centre Approved
Ireland's rail services will be expanded over the coming years following the approval of a new National Train Control Centre, the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Shane Ross, has announced.
27 May 2014
Over 3,700 Fewer Deaths Since Smoking Ban
The smoking ban in Ireland has led to 3,726 less tobacco-related deaths than if the legislation had not been introduced, according to An Roinn Sláinte, the Department of Health. The figures have been released to mark the tenth anniversary of the introduction of the workplace smoking ban in Ireland.
Over 3,700 Fewer Deaths Since Smoking Ban
The smoking ban in Ireland has led to 3,726 less tobacco-related deaths than if the legislation had not been introduced, according to An Roinn Sláinte, the Department of Health. The figures have been released to mark the tenth anniversary of the introduction of the workplace smoking ban in Ireland.
-
Ireland WeatherThis Evening and Tonight:Showers, scattered in the evening, will clear by midnight leaving the night dry with clear spells. Perhaps a touch of ground frost. Cloud will spread east towards morning. Minimum temperature 2 °C.
