WEST Donegal remains on high alert today despite the last of a series of devastating blazes being extinguished.
Donegal County Council says that a notice of ‘high fire risk’ will remain in place until tomorrow afternoon.
In the early hours of this morning firefighters extinguished the last of the extensive blazes that gripped Annagry, Belcruit, Loughanure and Kincasslagh.
A total of 13 Donegal County Council fire brigades, totalling 16 appliances and a further 12 support vehicles responded to the fires, assisted by an auxiliary fire service from the Donegal Civil Defence.
Further support came from the Irish Coast Guard, An Garda Síochána, The Irish Defence Forces and an appliance from Donegal Airport.
A spokesperson said this morning, “The responding agencies were hugely assisted by the community response in the area during the day where hundreds of local volunteers assisted both directly and indirectly. Donegal County Council would like to thank and acknowledge the co-operation and collaboration of the responding agencies and the local communities and volunteers during the wild fire.”
Warning people not to be complacent, they continued, “The notice of high fire risk (Condition Orange) remains effective up until Wednesday of this week for all areas where hazardous fuels such as gorse, heather, dried grasses and other dead vegetation exist.
“Donegal County Council appeals to landowners and members of the public to exercise caution and to take all necessary measures to prevent the occurrence of wildfires involving material such as gorse, heather and similar.
“Land owners and members of the public are urged to be vigilant and to report any uncontrolled or unattended fires immediately to the Fire Service by dialling 999 or 112.
“The Council is also urging landowners and members of the public not to engage in activities that could cause wildfires.”
Householders or building owners in areas susceptible to wildfire are being advised to remove or cut back any vegetation in the immediate vicinity of their house, building or oil tank to prevent wildfires damaging or destroying their property.
“Donegal County Council would also like to remind landowners and members of the public that under the Wildlife Act 1976 and the Wildlife (Amendment) Act 2000 it is an offence to cut, grub, burn or otherwise destroy any vegetation growing on any land not then cultivated between 1st day of March and 31st day of August in any year,” a spokesperson added.
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