Forest fire is biggest in the history of the state

THE biggest forest and gorse fire in the history of the State at Cloosh Valley near Oughterard could now wipe out nearly 10,000 acres of trees as well as forcing the evacuation of up to 20 houses in the area.

A regional emergency response, put in place earlier this week – involving the Fire Service, Gardai, Defence Forces and Coillte – battled through last evening to get the fire under control.

By lunchtime on Wednesday, an estimated 1,500 hectares (over 3,700 acres) of the Coillte state forest at Cloosh Valley, as well as 2,000 hectares of bogland (5,000 acres), had been destroyed in the fire

What will be the country’s biggest windfarm – currently under construction at Cloosh Valley – is also under threat from the blaze, with fire brigade units on hand to tackle any spread of the fire to this area.

A Garda spokesman last evening described the situation as ‘very serious’ and also asked people not to go near the fire area, in order to allow the emergency services the full scope to deal with the emergency.

“What we don’t need are onlookers blocking up the approach roads and hindering any access required by the emergency services.

“We have a lot of personnel at the scene and there are traffic restrictions in place. In the event of evacuations being required, we are also standing by to provide any assistance required,” said the Garda spokesman.

Local Oughterard councillor, Tom Welby, told the Connacht Tribune that there were now concerns for a number of houses in the Seánapheistín and Ugool area, such was the extent and spread of the fire.

“I really do think that we have to look at the whole issue of massive land designations in this area where huge destocking levels have led to the complete overgrowth of major land masses.

“Of course, this is just one of the factors involved but it is an important one. At the time of the designations, these issues were raised but they still went ahead on a massive scale,” said Cllr. Welby.

He said that there were now concerns that with the fire spreading to the lower bog area, it could take many more days to get it fully under control.

See full story in this week’s Connacht Tribune.