Status Orange High Forest Fire Risk Warning in place until Monday 18th August
- Status Orange HIGH Forest Fire Risk Warning in place Nationally until 12pm Monday 18th August
- 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
Arising from current weather patterns a high forest 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.
Current warm weather conditions are forecast to remain in place over the weekend with increased forest fire risks expected as a result. Fire behaviour and spread rates will be moderated by high humidity levels and current live growth in upland vegetation. Fire risk will be increasingly influenced by high temperatures, and variable light to moderate windspeeds during the span of this notice. Windspeeds may exceed 25km/h in some eastern areas over the weekend.
With continued fine weather, higher levels of visitor activities are expected in the countryside. Continued vigilance is warranted in areas with open public access or associated with active turf cutting. Fire activity during the last 7 days has been focussed on peat cutting areas. Visitors to public recreational areas should cooperate with all fire safety requirements and not light open fires or barbeques in high-risk areas.
Forest fire ignition risk is likely to be significantly increased by expected high levels of public and visitor activity in fire prone areas during the weekend. High vigilance is warranted in areas with intensive public access and recreational use. Visitors to forests, parks, beaches, and other public recreational areas should cooperate with all fire safety requirements and not light open fires or barbeques in forest areas.
Advice to the General Public/Forest Visitors
Members of the public and visitors to our forests and other recreational areas should cooperate with all requests regarding fire safety, obey all relevant bye-laws and should not use barbeques or other outdoor fire sources in forest lands during the duration of this warning. Visitors to the countryside should be considerate in parking vehicles so as not to impede access by emergency vehicles.
Where fire outbreaks occur at or near forest recreational areas the following actions should be taken by visitors in the interests of safety.
- Do not light fires in and around forests or open land.
- Do not attempt to intervene or fight fires under any circumstances.
- Gather all family/group members and move to a safe fuel-free location such as a car park, upwind of the fire.
- Telephone Fire and Rescue Services via 112 and report the fire and its location.
- Evacuate if instructed to do so, and cooperate with all Emergency Service Instructions.
