NPWS warn Mayo arsonists will face 'full rigour of the law'

THE National Parks and Wildlife Service have warned that anyone who deliberately starts a fire around the Wild Nephin National Park will face the 'full rigour of the law'.

Two fires broke out in the Wild Nephin National Park over the weekend with the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) indicating that they may have been started 'either deliberately or by recklessness'.

The first fire which broke out on Friday around Claggan in Ballycroy resulted in acres of bog being burnt while a boardwalk along the Claggan Coastal Trail, which is used by thousands of walkers every year, was also completely destroyed.

Campers in the east of Wild Nephin National Park had to be evacuated after a fire broke out in the early hours of Monday morning in Letterkeen forest. The fire was finally brought under control at around 9pm on Monday evening after the Irish Air Corps helicopter was called to assist the Mayo Fire Service in trying to contain the blaze.

The causes of these wildfires are still under investigation but the NPWS believe the initial indicators point in the direction of them being started 'either deliberately or by recklessness'.

READ: Tuesday temperatures expected to reach high of 19 degrees in Mayo

Commenting on the fires, Niall Ó Donnchú, Director General, NPWS warned against anyone who may consider starting a fire around the park.

“Anyone who engages in this reckless, senseless behaviour should carefully consider the consequences of their actions, and will be subject to the full rigour of the law,” he warned.

Speaking on Morning Ireland on RTÉ Radio One this morning, Denis Strong, Senior Divisional Manager with NPWS said that there was a 'sinister element' to the two fires as they both started at night.

“We cannot say what specifically caused it [fire] but we can say the Claggan Mountain fire started after 10pm and the Letterkeen Forest fire was set at between 2.30 and 3am. There is a sinister element to this because fires don't self ignite in the middle of the night,” he explained.

The boardwalk along the Claggan Coastal Trail in Ballycroy was completely destroyed in the gorse fire last Friday

Devastating impact

In a statement issued by the NPWS, they stated that the effect of fires on amenities in the national park is severe and wildfires have a devastating impact on nature, on communities and on National Parks and Nature Reserves.

“Wildlife may die from heat and smoke, habitats and food sources may be destroyed and vegetation severely impacted. The impact can be irreparable and have long term negative consequences. Wildfires also pose significant risks to people, including local communities and those visiting National Parks. The risk of property damage is significant but there is an even more serious risk to life.

“The effect of fires on amenities in our National Parks is severe. The fire on Friday night, which appears to have been set after dark either deliberately or by recklessness, destroyed an all-ability nature trail along with the surrounding vegetation. The Claggan Boardwalk had been built by the NWPS using local expertise in 2017 to provide access for all people, including those with limited mobility. This valuable amenity is now gone because of the fire,” the statement read.

The Claggan Coastal Trail will remain 'off limits' until further notice while all Letterkeen Loop trails, the Srahrevagh Loop trails, Western Way and the Bangor Trail are currently closed to the public.

Mr Strong described the Claggan boardwalk which was wheelchair accessible as 'an outdoor classroom' as it was used by schools and education groups as well locals and visitors alike. He said he expected the clean-up operation and the reconstruction of the board to take months to complete.

The NPWS say they are working with An Garda Síochána, Mayo Fire Service, regional Coillte staff, the Air Corps and others to ensure the safety of those around the national park, and extend sincere thanks to those groups and to its own staff for their efforts during this challenging situation.

Minister of State for Nature, Heritage and Biodiversity Christopher O’Sullivan, who recently visited the national park, stated that the wildfires in the Wild Nephin are a devastating reminder of how fragile our natural world is.

“This destruction not only scars the landscape, destroys habitats and species but also deprives communities of cherished spaces for education, recreation, and connection with nature.

“I am gutted for the NPWS team at Wild Nephin National Park, who built this trail with the local community to make the park more accessible. It has been a great success, allowing access to a nature-rich and profoundly beautiful landscape for everyone, including those with limited mobility. We must act with greater care and responsibility to protect these treasures for future generations.”

Orange warning

With the dry weather conditions set to continue for the rest of the week, Mayo County Council issued a 'Condition Orange – High Fire Risk' until April 14 for all areas 'where hazardous fuels such as dead grasses and shrub fuels such as heather and gorse exist'.

Tony Shevlin, Chief Fire Service in Mayo explained that they have had 40 mobilisations since Friday last with all units in Mayo having been mobilised at least once with busiest areas at or close to the National Park, Trien, Ballyhaunis and the Charlestown/Ballaghaderreen area.

He expressed concern for the safety of the fire officers dealing with the fires given the level of fatigue already in place and asked the public to act cautiously when enjoying the sunshine.

“The main issues are the difficult terrain encountered combined with the long hours involved is putting a severe strain on the physical well-being of our personnel,” he explained.

“Based on current weather patterns, the risk of a wildfire is currently high in Mayo where dead grasses and heather and gorse exist. This risk will continue possibly into the early part of next week. We have already attended a significant number of gorse and bog fires in recent days.

“While we want everyone to enjoy the sunshine and our beautiful stunning countryside, we urge people to act responsibly and not to have barbecues in open spaces, including disposable barbecues, to throw rubbish away, and to dispose of cigarettes carefully to avoid inadvertently starting a fire. We also appeal to the public to call in the fire as early as possible so that we have the best chance of extinguishing it with less resources.

“Remember, wildfires spread fast, leaving behind scorched landscapes, lost habitats, and can be a big strain on firefighter resources. Don't let carelessness be the cause,” he told The Mayo News while adding that while the fire service is dealing with fires they will not be able to deal as quickly to other emergencies.

The risk of gorse fires is greatest during dry spells from March to June when ground vegetation is dormant and dry and the risk increases with decreasing humidity and increasing wind speed.

Minister of State at the Department of Tourism, Alan Dillon TD, said he was devastated to hear the news that a large wildfire has forced the closure of the Claggan Mountain Coastal Trail over the weekend.

“This is a very popular trail with thousands of visitors enjoying the fantastic views and learning about the terrain every year.

‘It is extremely disappointing to see the trail will remain closed until further notice, especially as we approach the busy summer season.

“I am urging everyone to be mindful of actions which can cause damage to our natural and scenic areas. I commend those who fought so bravely to protect this trail from the wildfire and hope that it will be up and running again over the coming months,” concluded Minister Dillon.