A Garda investigation is under way into an illegal fire that destroyed some 66 hectares of land within the Wicklow mountains national park last week.

In the early hours of Thursday 28 May, a member of the public reported a fire on an open hillside in Piperstown, near the Glenasmole Valley in Co Dublin, which is part of the Wicklow mountains national park.

An emergency response from the Dublin Fire Brigade was triggered as a result, along with personnel from the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) and Coillte, which attended the scene.

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Strong winds and large gorse stands on site made conditions difficult as the fire spread quickly, with multiple fire tenders and helicopters used to attempt to put out the blaze.

Dublin fire brigade also called an excavator on site to dig firebreaks to protect nearby private homes.

Prohibited

Under the Wildlife Act, burning, cutting or destroying vegetation on uncultivated land or hedgerows is illegal between 1 March and 31 August to safeguard nesting birds and wildlife during their breeding season and to prevent wildfires.

It is entirely prohibited to burn general domestic or agricultural waste.

“I want to remind the public that the National Parks and Wildlife Service has significantly ramped up its capacity and readiness for these events and will be utilising its ‘eyes in the sky’ aerial surveillance programme and ground crews to prevent and deter illegal activity in and around our national parks over the summer months,” Minister of State for nature, heritage and biodiversity Christopher O’Sullivan stated.

“I am appealing to communities and landowners to be aware of their responsibilities when it comes to burning activities. Illegal burning is a wildlife crime and is subject to investigation and prosecution.

Damage

“Damage caused by illegal fires can be cross-reported to, or inspected by, the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine and can result in a sanction being applied to area-based payments.

“My thoughts are with the team at Wicklow mountains national park as they assess and monitor the damage in the weeks ahead.

“Nesting season is a time for growth and for the future survival of our rarest birds and wildlife. That makes this act particularly cruel.

“I’m so grateful to the emergency services and NPWS personnel who put their lives at risk for us in situations like this and I’d like to commend the member of the public who reported the fire.

“A full investigation is now under way and I’m determined that those responsible will be held accountable for their actions,” he said.