Status Orange High Forest Fire Risk Warning in Place ~ Public urged to remain at home as per Covid-19 guidelines

Status Orange HIGH Forest Fire Risk Warning in Place

Public urged to remain at home as per Covid-19 guidelines

• Status Orange HIGH National Forest Fire Risk Warning in place
• Coillte forest car parks remain closed.
• Forests are open for those who live within 5km to take brief physical exercise in line with Government guidelines.
• Landowners and the public should avoid all outdoor fires and other open ignition sources.
• All land owners urged to obey restrictions in place for land burning.

Coillte has reminded members of the public that the Government Covid 19 related restrictions are still in place and that members of the public should stay at home or within 5km of their home.

This is especially important as, the present pattern of weather has previously been associated with extreme fire behaviour under Irish conditions. Projected Initial Spread Index values are also in the very high range in Western areas. This indicates a strong potential for rapid fire spread and difficulty of suppression in typical upland fuels.

Based on recent fire incidents, most ignitions risks appear to be associated with deliberate ignitions on areas where active turf cutting or illegal waste dumping is taking place. Members of the public intending to visit forests and other recreational sites are reminded of the requirement to remain within 5km of their homes and to adhere to regulations introduced to limit the spread of Covid-19. Vehicles should not be parked at site entrances or impede emergency service access to forest roads.

Pending significant rainfall, this risk condition will remain in place until 1200hrs on Monday, May 18th, 2020 unless otherwise stated by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine.

Coillte forest carparks are closed but the forests remain open for people who live within 5km of them to take brief physical exercise in line with the Government guidelines.

Landowners are also reminded that under the Wildlife Act, it is illegal to burn growing vegetation on uncultivated land between 1st March and 31st August. Persons engaged in such illegal activity are liable to prosecution and could face fines, imprisonment and penalties to their farm payments.

For more information, please visit www.coillte.ie or for regular updates follow Coillte on Twitter @coilltenews

About Coillte
Coillte, Ireland’s largest commercial forestry company manages approximately 7% of the country’s land on a fully sustainable basis. Coillte is the largest supplier of roundwood in Ireland which underpins a vibrant Forestry Sector.

The Irish forestry sector supports 12,000 rural based jobs in Ireland, contributes approximately €2.3 billion to the economy every year and has the potential to double in size over the next ten years.

Visit www.coillte.ie to learn more

For further information or to arrange an interview with a Coillte representative please contact:

Jillian Garvey 083 8919 583/ jgarvey@carrcommunications.ie