UPDATE AND STATEMENT FROM DONEGAL COUNTY COUNCIL ON EXTENSIVE WILD FIRES IN WEST DONEGAL
The extensive wild fire in West Donegal in the areas of Annagry, Belcruit, Loughanure and Kincasslagh concluded late last night, (Monday) / early this morning (Tuesday).
A total of 13 Donegal County Council Fire Brigades, totalling 16 appliances and a further 12 support vehicles responded to the event and were assisted by an auxiliary fire service from the Donegal Civil Defence.
The Donegal County Council Fire Service was supported by the Irish Coast Guard, An Garda Síochána, The Irish Defence Forces, comprising of an Air Corp Helicopter with fire fighting capabilities and a platoon of infantry from Finnar Camp, Ballyshannon, and was further aided by a fire appliance / water carrier from Donegal Airport.
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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.
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.
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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.
House holders or building owners in areas susceptible to wildfire are 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.
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