Dublin is surrounded by fantastic natural amenities and are popular places to visit at weekends and during fine weather. Unfortunately there is an increase in wildfires, also known as vegetation or gorse fires, when human activity in these areas increase. Wildfires can spread rapidly, cause significant damage to land and property and demand a lot of Firefighting resources to extinguish.
Help stop wildfires by:
- Not lighting camp fires.
- Not using a barbecue, disposable or re-useable, outside of designated areas.
- Disposing of smoking materials in a responsible manner.
- Leaving no trace. Take your litter home. The sun’s energy can be magnified through glass bottles, and litter can be set on fire by opportunistic arsonists.
- Reporting suspicious or anti-social behaviour to An Garda Siochana at the first opportunity.
- Not parking on grass verges. You car’s exhaust system can start a fire.
- Parking responsibly. Illegal and irresponsible parking can hamper our efforts of getting fire appliances to the fire quickly.
If there is a fire:
- Don’t attempt to fight the fire.
- Retreat to a safe location.
- Call 112 or 999 immediately. The quicker we know about the fire the quicker we can deal with it. Don’t assume someone else has called it in.
- If you don’t know exactly where you are, describe a landmark or building that you can meet the firefighters at.
PLEASE NOTE: SUMMER 2021
Given the inherent fire risk in spring weather patterns and upland vegetation states, a Moderate Fire Risk Condition (CONDITION YELLOW) is deemed to exist in all areas where hazardous fine fuels such as dead grasses, gorse and heather are present in proximity to forests and other assets.
This condition will remain the minimum default status until the end of the main peak fire season in September 2021 unless otherwise upgraded by Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine.
Controlled Burning and the Wildlife Act 1976/2000
Controlled burning of land is a common practice in rural settings, however: It is an offence under Section 40 of the Wildlife Act, 1976 (amended by Section 46 of the Wildlife Act, 2000) to burn, from 1st March to 31st August in any year, any vegetation growing on any land not then cultivated. Parties found guilty of this offence may have grants provided by Government departments reviewed