“These fires are putting entire villages at risk” - Mayo farmers

Farmers and residents on Achill Island are demanding immediate and coordinated action from local and national authorities after a sharp rise in dangerous roadside fires, many of which are believed to be caused by discarded cigarette butts. The Achill IFA Commonage Fire Watch Team, active since 2023, has recorded 12 wildfires in the area over the past three years, with three already reported in 2025 alone. Several of these fires came within metres of homes, posing a grave threat to lives, livelihoods, and biodiversity.

The most severe blaze occurred in 2023, when thousands of acres of grazing land, vital habitats, and rare flora and fauna were destroyed. The fire, which originated from the roadside in Bunnacurry, became so dangerous that an entire local village was placed on evacuation alert. It took the combined efforts of locals, the Achill Fire Brigade, and helicopter support to bring it under control.

Despite the evidence pointing to roadside ignition, particularly from cigarette litter, the Department of Agriculture responded by penalising local farmers, cutting area payments and wrongly attributing blame. This unjust treatment was the catalyst for the formation of the Achill IFA Commonage Fire Watch Team.

“We’re not just losing farmland – these fires are putting entire villages at risk,” said a spokesperson for the Achill IFA Commonage Fire Watch Team. “These fires are avoidable. The facts are clear: they're starting on roadsides, mostly in dry conditions, and largely in areas with reduced roadside grazing and particularly where roadside maintenance has been scaled back in line with environmental protection guidelines, resulting in increased fire risk. We need action – not blame.”

The team’s ongoing monitoring indicates a consistent pattern: the majority of fires are igniting along the main road between Mulranny and Bunnacurry on Achill Island, most often from midday through to the evening, regardless of whether the day is sunny or dull. Public opinion and fire monitoring increasingly support the belief that discarded cigarette butts from passing vehicles are the ignition source.

READ MORE: Huge Mayo gorse fire results in call for campaign on dangers of discarded cigarette butts

There is an urgent need for public awareness, particularly among non-locals and people unfamiliar with the region’s high fire risk in dry months — from late March through to late autumn.

The Achill IFA Commonage Fire Watch Team is calling on the Road Safety Authority, Mayo County Council, the Department of Agriculture, and the National Parks and Wildlife Service to immediately implement a public safety signage campaign along the high-risk roads. They are requesting:

• At least 15 very large, highly visible fire risk signs on the main route to and across Achill Island

• 25–30 additional smaller signs on secondary roads and entry points

• Clear warning symbols that include a cigarette butt and fire icon

• Direct consultation with the IFA Commonage Fire Watch Team on sign design and messaging.

“In recent times the deer warning signs placed locally are poor and not good enough,” the IFA Commonage fire watch team states. “We need signs that catch attention and deliver a clear message: Don’t set our land on fire.”

On the ground, local Achill authorities, including the Gardaí and Fire Brigade, have expressed interest and support for the IFA Commonage fire team’s proposal. However, funding and national action is still lacking.

Without intervention, the IFA Commonage fire team warns that it is only a matter of time before a fire causes a catastrophic loss of property, or worse locally.

“These fires are not accidents. They’re the result of careless human behaviour and policy inaction. If this was happening near Dublin or Galway, it would have been addressed long ago. We’re demanding the same level of respect, protection, and responsibility for Achill Island and its people.”