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13th May 2019

Department of Agriculture issues a “high fire risk” warning for the rest of the week

Carl Kinsella

Fire risk

With great weather comes great responsibility.

The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine have issued a Condition Orange (high fire risk) warning to last until midday on Friday (17 April).

Most of the country is expected to experience sunny weather throughout the coming week, but unfortunately this also means some areas are more susceptible to fire.

The warning, which came into effect at midday today, notes that “fire risk is likely to be highest in westernmost areas with lowest expected humitidy levels in the coming days. Fire behaviour may be moderated somewhat by increasing live growth content in fuels and generally low ambient wind speeds during the lifespan of this notice.”

The “high fire risk” is particularly relevant “in all areas where hazardous fuels such as gorse, heather, dried grasses and other dead vegetation exist.”

Last summer, Ireland experienced several major gorse fires across the country, with one Wexford beach forced to evacuate after a fire broke out on the dunes.

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Topics:

Fire,Weather