Featured photo by Brid Sweeney during the April 2019 gorse fires in West Donegal
As the weather heats up, the risk of wild fires in Ireland has reached condition red.
The Department of Agriculture has issued its highest level warning until midday Monday.
“The issue of Condition Red extreme fire risk warnings is a comparatively rare event and implies that recipients should take immediate action to protect resources and property,” it said.
“An extreme fire risk is deemed to exist in all areas where hazardous fuels such as dead grasses and shrub fuels such as heather and gorse exist.”
A status yellow weather warning is also in place for the entire country comes from midday on Saturday until 6am on Sunday. With temperatures set to reach 27C, forecasters are warning of the risks of hot weather for people, and for nature.
Forest fire risk is likely to be increased by expected high levels of public and visitor activity in fire prone areas during the weekend.
Visitors to public recreational areas are being urged not to light open fires or barbeques in forest areas.
Landowners and managers should remain vigilant to all fire activity and report all suspicious activity to An Garda Siochana.
Extreme caution is also advised with respect to hay making, the use of farm machinery and other agricultural activity that may also present a risk of fire in dry vegetation on in current conditions.
