A DONEGAL County Councillor has said what most people in the county have believed for the past 10 days – MOST of the gorse fires ravaging our countryside have been started maliciously.
Cllr Seamus O’Domhnaill confirmed what fire service sources have been saying for the past few days and has called for checkpoints to stop the arsonists.
He spoke out as fire swept through gorse at Glenveagh National Park last night.
The back road between Termon and Gaoth Dobhair had to be closed by Gardai as our over-stretched fire crews were once again forced to take action.
Cllr O’Domhnaill said the last gorse fires were “a total disgrace.”
“Most of these fires are being maliciously lit and are putting lives and property in danger,” said the Donegal politician.
The fire in Glenveagh – Donegal’s number one tourist attraction – came just hours after park authorities posted pictures of these deer (left) on their Facebook page.
Rain today will bring some relief for the fire crews.
Despite more than 100 fires across Donegal in the past week no-one has been arrested or held over any of the blazes.
In 2011 when there were hundreds of gorse fires – the worst in living memory – no charges were ever brought against anyone for arson.
Cllr O Domhnaill told Donegal Daily: “There has been an unprecedented amount of Gorse fires raging across certain parts of Donegal over the last number of weeks and I have no doubt that a number of these fires have been lit maliciously by individuals who seem to have no regard for the families who are suffering as a result of their actions.
“Many of these fires are beginning during darkness which in effect rules out any possibility of the Suns rays having naturally ignited the fires.
“Having spoken to members of the public who have come across these fires at their infancy they have informed me that imported materials were lit and placed in remote areas so as to start a Gorse fire.
“Our fire crews across the County are fatigued and doing fabulous work to ensure that no loss of life or major loss of Property has occurred. On the other hand Animals have had to be moved from dields and sheds after midnight and even families have had to vacate their houses in the early hours of the morning. If this idiotic practice of lighting fires continues it is only a matter of time untill we have a disaster on our hands in Donegal.
“With the dry weather and winds these fires are spreading out of control quickly and are causing massive harm to fencing, wildlife and grasslands and indeed properties of the affected families. The question must be asked Is it time that checkpoints be introduced across our County to ensure that these practices are stopped ? This further reducing and stretching our already overworked and under equipped garda Force.”
Cllr O’Domhnaill added: “I am asking anybody with any information in regards to any peculiar or strange activity to report it to the Gardaí in an attempt to reduce the destruction across our county as a result of these fires.
“I am more than aware that a number of these fires have been naturally or accidentaly lit and such will occur in Dry Weather but the large numbers of Fires spreading across our County especially after darkness leaves me in no doubt but that all of these fires are not accidentall and some are being lit intentionally with no other rationale than to destroy Property, Wildlife and more.”