Forest fires caused €7m damage

MORE THAN 1,280 hectares of forestry were destroyed by fire in 2010, causing damage worth almost €7 million, according to forestry companies and the Garda.

Launching a campaign against uncontrolled burning of vegetation and scrub, the authorities estimate damage to State-owned Coillte lands at €3.5 million, with 788 hectares of forestry, described as a valuable export crop, destroyed.

In private forests timber worth €3.45 million was lost across 500 hectares of woodland.

Warning that fines and prison terms of up to a year were in place for those who started fires by accident, the Garda yesterday said it believed most fires were started accidentally through traditional clearance of scrub and other unwanted vegetation.

Clearance by burning usually gets under way on about March 1st, but the authorities said recent cold winters had resulted in “tinder-box” conditions with dead and dried-out vegetation causing a 300 per cent increase in fires last year.

While burning had become an accepted practice, the Garda said farmers and land owners should be aware it was illegal to burn within one mile of forestry without written notice to the fire brigade and gardaí.

The notice must be given between seven and 35 days in advance.

Failure to provide written notice alongside detailed safety measures could result in up to a year in prison.

The campaign is aimed at landowners and farmers, and Garda Supt Fergus Healy said an inspector had been appointed to each Garda division to investigate forest fires and determine the cause.

Supt Healy emphasised the threat that land and forest fires presented to lives and property.

“It is the responsibility of every member of the community, particularly those living near wooded areas, to comply with the legislation and undertake burning in a controlled manner,” he said.

“Any person intending to burn within one mile of a wooded area must inform their local Garda station in writing, no fewer than seven days in advance. Anyone who undertakes burning in such an area without notifying An Garda Síochána is committing an offence.”

Supt Healy also said landowners and farmers should make themselves aware of the necessary precautions relating to controlled burning by contacting the local fire services for advice or visit the Garda website, garda.ie.