Be advised.
A high fire risk warning is in place across Ireland for the duration of the coming week.
Issued by the Department of Agriculture on Monday afternoon (25 April), the Status Orange-level warning will remain in place until midday on Friday.
The public is advised not to light fires in and around forests or open land, to dispose of smoking materials responsibly and to not attempt to intervene in the event of a fire breaking out.
Should anyone spot a fire, they are asked to call 999 or 112 to report the incident.
Fire behaviour and rates of spread are likely to be influenced by lower daytime humidity levels and light to moderate wind speeds during the timeline of the warning.
Forest owners are advised to be particularly vigilant during this period.
Dublin Fire Brigade advises the public to prevent wildfires by:
- Not lighting camp fires.
- Not using a barbecue, disposable or re-useable, outside of designated areas.
- Disposing of smoking materials in a responsible manner.
- Leaving no trace. Take your litter home. The sun’s energy can be magnified through glass bottles, and litter can be set on fire by opportunistic arsonists.
- Reporting suspicious or anti-social behaviour to An Garda Síochána at the first opportunity.
- Not parking on grass verges. You car’s exhaust system can start a fire.
- Parking responsibly. Illegal and irresponsible parking can hamper our efforts of getting fire appliances to the fire quickly.
An updated fire graph index is available via Met Éireann here.
A Government-approved guide to overall fire safety may be accessed here.
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