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A Status Red – Forest Fire Warning has been issued by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. Take heed of the risks to land, property and life from potential wildfires during the current weather conditions.

Warning Effective From: 1200hrs 29/05/2020
Effective Period Expires: 1200hrs 01/06/2020

Arising from current weather patterns, an extreme forest fire risk is deemed to exist in all areas where hazardous fuels such as dead grasses, heather and gorse exist.

An anticyclone of 1038hPa centred over the North Sea will track steadily eastwards and generate light to moderate easterly airflows over Ireland during the next 24 hours, consistent with a ‘Type A’ fire weather pattern.

This type of pattern has previously been associated with extreme fire behaviour under Irish conditions. EFFIS Fine Fuels Moisture Code is now in excess of 85 and Initial Spread index values are in excess of 10 across much of Ireland indicating high fire spread potential and difficulty of suppression in typical upland fuels. Fire behaviour will be influenced by light to moderate easterly and south easterly winds that may exceed 20km/h in coastal areas. Fire behaviour may be moderated by increased live growth in places.

Overall Forest fire risk is likely to be compounded by ignitions risks associated with expected high levels of public activity in fire prone areas during the Bank Holiday Weekend.

Pending a significant change in weather patterns this risk condition will remain in place until 1200hrs on Monday, June 1st, 2020, and will revert to Condition Orange at that point until further notice from DAFM.

Advisory Note
Under extreme fire risk conditions any ignition source in upland vegetation will give rise to rapid and unpredictable wildfire development and spread. Fires can be expected to cover extensive areas and pose extreme difficulties to suppression efforts and may potentially give rise to Major Emergency scenarios.

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. Such action may involve the mobilisation, assembly and prepositioning of resources such as water tankers, machinery, personnel and contract aviation support to high risk areas.

Preliminary notification of Aid to Civil Power / Aid to Civil Authority requests by relevant authorities may also be warranted.

• DAFM advise at this point that all forms of permitted controlled burning immediately cease, and that the outdoor use of fires, barbeques and other open ignition sources be avoided on forest lands and in other high risk areas until further notice.
• Extreme caution is also advised with respect to hay making, the use of machinery and other agricultural activity that may also present a risk of fire in dry vegetation on in current conditions.
• Members of the public intending to visit forests and other recreational sites for exercise 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 be parked considerately near site entrances so as not to impede emergency service access to forest roads.
• Forest owners/managers, other land managers, landowners and local authorities should implement fire patrols to exclude all fire activity from the landscape and enforce relevant fire protection legislation.
• Rural residents should also implement a high degree of vigilance, and check on elderly or other vulnerable neighbours and assist with preparation and reassurance, and evacuation if this is deemed necessary by the Emergency services.
• Report Fires Immediately If you see a fire, do not delay; report it to the Fire and Emergency Services straight away. Do not wait for somebody else to make the call. Dial 999 or 112. It is an offence to cut, grub, burn or otherwise destroy any vegetation growing on any land not then cultivated between 1stMarch and 31st August in any year. Report all suspicious or illegal activity to Gardai immediately.

Advice to the General Public/Forest Visitors

• Members of the public intending to visit forests and other recreational sites for exercise 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.
• Visitors to recreational areas should cooperate with all requests regarding fire safety, obey all relevant bye-laws and be considerate in parking vehicles so as not to impede access by emergency vehicles.
• Do not light fires in and around forests or open land. The use of Barbeques, camp fires and other open ignition sources should be avoided in or near forests and may be controlled by bye-laws in some areas.
• Report Fires Immediately. If you see a fire, do not delay; report it to the Fire and Emergency Services straight away. Do not wait for somebody else to make the call. Dial 999 or 112. It is an offence to cut, grub, burn or otherwise destroy any vegetation growing on any land not then cultivated between 1stMarch and 31st August in any year.
• Report all suspicious or illegal activity to Gardai immediately.

Where fire outbreaks occur at or near recreational areas the following actions should be taken by visitors in the interests of safety:

1. Do not light fires in and around forests or open land.
2. Do not attempt to intervene or fight fires under any circumstances.
3. Gather all family/group members and move to a safe fuel-free location such as a car park, upwind of the fire.
4. Report Fires immediately. Telephone Fire and Rescue Services via 112 and report the fire and its location.
5. Evacuate if instructed to do so, and cooperate with all Emergency Service Instructions.

Further information on Fire management and wildfire protection is available at http://www.agriculture.gov.ie/forestservice/firemanagement

Source: DAFM

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