Gorse fires keep West Cork crews busy

TWO fire brigades from Schull were called out at 5pm on new year’s eve to attend an out of control gorse fire at Skeagh.

The fire covered an area of two to three acres in an area that is just one and a half miles from the village of Schull on the Mount Gabriel Road.

Schull Station Officer, Paul O’Brien, said the crews extinguished the fire within two hours without it posing any real damage or threat to properties. The burning of gorse and scrubland is legal under the Wildlife Act until March 1st. But it is unusual for landowners to burn at this time of year because it is normally too wet. The lack of rain and the cold, dry wind has, however, led to a higher incidence of burning in recent weeks.

The Schull Station Officer appealed to landowners to be vigilant and not to let the burning of land get out of control: ‘It would be beneficial if landowners contacted either the gardaí or Fire Control in Limerick to let them know when they are going to attempt controlled burning because it would mean that the local fire service would be aware of the situation.’

Meanwhile, two units from Castletownbere attended a gorse fire at Kilcatherine in Eyeries on new year’s eve – a fire that was dealt with within 90 minutes.