Garda plea on gorse fires

GARDAI have appealed for far greater care to be taken as regards gorse  fires, following a number of outbreaks that occurred right across the county over the past fortnight.

One of the most serious occurred in Báile na hAbhann, Connemara, where hundreds of acres of scrub were burned in a blaze that at one stage threatened houses in the area.

Up to five fire brigade units fought the blaze at Bóthair Loch an Airla, Doiriu, for several hours and prevented it from causing any damage to the nearby houses.

A Garda spokesman this week pleaded for people not to be tempted into ‘clearing off areas of scrub’ by setting them alight.

“In dry conditions, gorse fires can burn completely out of control causing damage to wildlife and in cases endangering houses in the vicinity.

“We would really ask people to think twice before they set off gorse – once dry vegetation ‘takes off’ after a spell without rain, it is very difficult to stop it,” said the Garda spokesman.

Gardai also reported gorse fires in the Maam Cross, Letterfrack, Woodford and Abbeyknockmoy areas over the past two weeks.

The fire on the edge of Abbeyknockmoy Bog raged for about six hours from 5pm to 11pm last Sunday evening, attracting many onlookers who parked along the N63 Galway to Roscommon roadway.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.