THE IRISH CHIEF Fire Officers’ Association has described the rash of forest, gorse and bog fires that they battled in 13 counties at the weekend as “unprecedented”.

Adrian Kelly, vice-chairman of the CFOA and Chief Fire Officer in Clare said that the geographical spread of the fires had put a huge strain on national fire services. He said many of the weekend fires were now under control or extinguished and that there is hope that a forecast of rain in the next 48 hours in affected areas will be a big help. He said:

A combination of strong winds and the continuing dry conditions exacerbated the situation by causing fires to spread, particularly across Donegal.

The CFOA condemned anyone who had started a fire deliberately.

Such reckless actions have places the lives of both members of the local community and also firefighters at risk. These fires have also destroyed hundreds of acres of gorse land, forestry and bogs, with negative consequences for property, tourism and wildlife.

An unbelievable 13 counties suffered wildfires at the weekend: Donegal, Leitrim, Monaghan, Sligo, Longford, Cavan, Roscommon, OFfaly, Louth, Westmeath, Clare, Galway and Mayo.

The fires that raged across County Mayo at the weekend were captured in these stark and stunning images by Eamonn Farrell of Photocall Ireland: