Investigation underway following fire in Mayo national park

An investigation has been launched into the wildfires which have affected large swathes of the Mayo.

The blaze, which has been burning across Wild Nephin National Park, has caused significant damage to the boardwalk and destroyed acres of forestry.

READ MORE: Air Corps helicopter assisting Mayo forest fire

Because of the severity of the fire, several groups of wild campers have been evacuated from the area.

Now, with the fire still burning, the Director General of the National Parks and Wildlife Service, Niall Ó Donnchú, has stated that anyone who takes part in irresponsible practices leading to destruction of this scale should be punished appropriately.

“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,” Ó Donnchú stated.

Christopher O’Sullivan, the Minister of State for Nature, Heritage and Biodiversity, echoed those sentiments and spoke with sadness on the loss of such a beautiful site to preventable causes, such as the fire that started on Friday.

“Wildfires like the one at the Claggan boardwalk in Wild Nephin are a] devastating reminder of how fragile our natural world is,” he said.

“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.”