Donegal Daily
  • News
  • Sport
  • Courts
  • Jobs
  • Business
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel
  • Politics
  • Features
  • Donegal County Council News
Sunday 17°CMonday 18°C

Donegal Daily Donegal Daily

sponsor banner
sponsor banner
  • News
  • Sport
  • Courts
  • Jobs
  • Business
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel
  • Politics
  • Features
  • Donegal County Council News
Lead StoriesNews

Call for volunteer gorse fire service after latest blaze

written by Staff Writer May 6, 2020
FacebookTweetLinkedInPrint

A call has been made for the establishment of rural gorse fire-fighters in the wake of the latest fire in West Donegal.

Up to 60 local people fought the early stages of a blaze in Ranafast earlier today.

Brave locals fought back the fire with shovels before members fo the fire service from a number of stations including Glenties, Gaoth Dobhair, Dungloe and Falcarragh brought the blaze under control.

The fire, which is understood to have started accidentally, was very close to a number of dwellings before it was tamed.

Local county councillor Michael Mac Giolla Easbuig was of a number of local volunteers who rushed to the scene in the early stages.

He said that without the local assistance the fire could easily have destroyed at least one local home.

“There must have been fifty and sixty people beating back the fire and they are a credit to their local community.

“They included the Doherty family who were working with turf when they got the call and they all jumped in the car and rushed to the fire to help.

The gorsefire at Ranafast today. Pictures by Ian Callaghan.

“There were so many others but I just remember seeing the Doherty family and speaking to them later but everyone showed great courage,” he said.

He thanked local businesses including Stephen O’Donnell’s garage in Crolly, Sharkey’s Bar, The Cope in Annagry and Peter O’Donnell for supplying refreshments for volunteers.

He added that he now thought it was time that the council gives serious consideration to training locals to respond properly to gorse fires.

He added “I am not saying that these volunteers replace the firefighters, they are the professionals.

“What I am saying is that very often locals who are living amongst the gorse are the first on the scene and at least they should be trained in dealing with fires before the professionals arrive.

“Surely there is money being put back into the council which could be spent training and equipping locals in some way when something like this does happen.”

Call for volunteer gorse fire service after latest blaze was last modified: May 7th, 2020 by Staff Writer
FacebookTweetLinkedInPrint

Tags:
donegalfiregorseRanfastservicevolunteers
Staff Writer

LEAVE A COMMENT

You may also like

Breaking: Young Donegal father tragically killed in...

14 minutes ago

Fine weather to return next week as...

4 hours ago

Seamus Coleman pays respects to Diogo Jota...

6 hours ago

Glenswilly GAA hosting Clubhouse Beats teen disco...

6 hours ago

Ghost is Donegal’s dog in the 2025...

7 hours ago

€1,000 college fees hike a “suckerpunch” for...

8 hours ago

Charles Ward opens first 100% Redress Party...

11 hours ago

Falcarragh Summer Cup launch new memorial cup...

12 hours ago

Letterkenny drug-driver put off the road

12 hours ago

Stunning response to community fundraiser for tragic...

13 hours ago
Advertisement
Advertisement

Donegal County Council

Facebook
Donegal County Council
Advertisement
Advertisement
Donegal Daily Jobs

Read More

  • News
  • Sport
  • Courts
  • Jobs
  • Sales & Services
  • Obituaries
  • Features
  • Business
  • Politics
  • Council News

Information

  • Contact Us
  • About
  • Advertise WIth Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Disclaimer
  • Terms & Conditions

Our Sites

Donegal Woman
Donegal Woman
Donegal Daily

© 2025 Donegal Daily. All rights reserved.
Website by owenod


Back To Top.

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it.