Cork fire officer warns of scourge of outdoor fires

With longer evenings – and hopefully brighter days – ahead, Cork City Fire Brigade has warned that this time of year also brings the scourge of fires set accidentally, and some deliberately.

Victor Shine, second officer with the city fire service, said that coming into the summer, the service always has to deal with multiple gorse blazes, many caused by the remnants of barbecues and outdoor fires.

“We would appeal all members of the public across Cork city and county to help preserve local grasslands and forestry areas as if they were their own,” he told The Echo.

“We are lucky to live in a part of the world blessed with great beauty and it is a resource that we look forward to enjoying every summer, and indeed every part of the year, without it being permanently damaged by fire.” 

Mr Shine said there was an added danger that fires which get out of control can pose a very real risk to human life and property.

“As we have seen in previous years, fires that are set out in wild land or gorse areas, or ditches or hedges, these fires can spread into private property or commercial premises, causing significant damage and perhaps loss of life or loss of employment due to damage to property,” he said.

“There are also the dangers from fires that may be set and from aerosol cans that may be present in the areas exploding and causing significant injuries or even death.” 

Mr Shine cited the Ballincollig Regional Park and the Glenn River Park as two areas regularly afflicted by gorse fires, and sometimes targeted by blazes set maliciously.

“We also regularly see a particularly nasty practice in some fields close to the city, where farmers will be harvesting the hay,” he added.

“Some people find it very amusing to set fire to the big round bales and roll them down the hills, which will obviously set fire to more bales and gorse, spreading fire throughout the fields."