Bog fires threatened homes in Belclare

Date Published: 26-Mar-2009

HOUSEHOLDERS in North Galway were terrified as flames measuring 40 feet high came within a couple of hundred yards of their homes as a bog fire got out of control.

And Gardai have issued a warning to land owners about the lighting of fires to clear land of vegetation following three incidents in the Belclare area of blazes taking on a life of their own.

Several fire units had to be called to the lands last weekend when the gorse fires got out of control and threatened neighbouring lands and property. But Gardai in Tuam said that fortunately all of the fires were brought under control before they could cause any damage.

Sergeant Gerry Hynes of Tuam Garda Station said that the main reason the fires went out of control was because they…