Fire crews have brought a large gorse fire under control near Connolly this afternoon.
The alarm was raised at around 2.30pm when a fire was reported in open ground but close to forestry at Kinturk. The scene is just off the R474 Ennis to Miltown Malbay road a short distance from Doolough Lake.
Units of Clare County Fire and Rescue Service responded from Ennis station and battle to prevent the fire spreading into the forested area.
Firefighters used beaters to extinguish several large pockets of fire over a wide area but managed to bring the blaze under control.
The country remains under a Condition Orange – High Fire Risk warning which will remain in place until 12.00 on April 14th. It’s the second consecutive week that the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine has issued such a warning.
Included in this warning is the following advice:
– Forest owners, farmers, rural dwellers and other countryside users are asked to be extremely vigilant regarding fire activity, to report any suspicious or illegal activity to the Garda and to report all fires immediately to the Fire and Emergency Services via 112/999.
– It is an offence to cut, grub, burn or otherwise destroy any vegetation growing on any land not then cultivated between 1st March and 31st August in any year. Report all suspicious or illegal activity to Gardai immediately. Landowners found burning illegally could face fines, imprisonment and Single Farm Payment penalties, where applicable.
– Members of the public and 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.
Where fire outbreaks occur at or near recreational areas the following actions should be taken by visitors in the interests of safety:
- Do not light fires in and around forests or open land.
- Do not attempt to intervene or fight fires under any circumstances.
- Gather all family/group members and move to a safe fuel-free location such as a car park, upwind of the fire.
- Telephone Fire and Rescue Services via 112 and report the fire and its location.
- Evacuate if instructed to do so, and cooperate with all Emergency Service instructions
