Helicopters and drones to be used as fire risk rises

With the dry sunny spell due to last, the National Parks and Wildlife Service has appealed to the public not to light fires or barbecues in public places this summer and it says it will take to the air to reduce risk. 

While appealing to the public to take renewed care and responsibility when outdoors, the Service says it has increased ground crews on fire patrol and has ramped up aerial monitoring with helicopters and drones. 

Due to its huge forested area, the Slieve Blooms in Laois is particularly at risk.

The Director General of the NPWS, Niall O Donnchú, asked for everybody’s cooperation to protect nature.

“While NPWS has increased ground crews and monitoring from the air this week, we still need to enlist your help to protect nature at this high risk time. We ask that members of the public not light fires or barbecues in any National Parks or Nature Reserves, or indeed in nature generally.  We are also asking that the public be vigilant and report any fire activity without delay,” he said.

Laois Gardai join calls for caution amid wildfire risk

Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage Darragh O’Brien TD advised: “If you notice a fire, please call the emergency services on 112 immediately. NPWS teams are upping their patrols to identify potential fire incidents and act quickly should one break out. However as we know, prevention is better than cure, and we’re asking all members of the public to avoid lighting fires in open areas.”

The Minister of State for Heritage and Electoral Reform Malcolm Noonan TD also commented: “Our National Parks and Nature Reserves, coastal sand dunes, mountains and upland areas, forests, meadows and urban parks are all places where we enjoy spending time in nature, but they are also home to our precious wildlife and their vulnerable young.

"This is a really important time of year for wildlife, especially vulnerable ground-nesting birds and mammals who are now rearing their young. We all want to get out and enjoy the good weather but let’s do it responsibly - without putting nature at risk,” he said.

The National Parks and Wildlife Service is responsible for the management, maintainance and development of State-owned National Parks and Nature Reserves.