THE MINISTER FOR nature and biodiversity has said people are behaving recklessly by using disposable barbecues, after two major wildfires had to be extinguished this week.

A fire broke out in Killarney National Park on Tuesday, and emergency services battled throughout the evening to bring it under control. 

On Wednesday night, a fire burned part of the Wicklow Mountains. 

Minister Christopher O’Sullivan said both blazes appeared to have been started by “reckless and irresponsible human activity”.

“I cannot stress this enough: these fires are preventable,” he said.

O’Sullivan thanked emergency services that worked to put out last night’s blaze, but said it was “disappointing” that frontline workers have to respond to “another avoidable incident, placing themselves at risk while protecting our precious landscapes and wildlife”. 

He urged everyone visiting the countryside and protected areas to be “vigilant, cautious and accountable for their actions”.

“Many of our natural areas are now exceptionally dry and are effectively tinderboxes, even the smallest act of carelessness can have devastating consequences,” he said.

O’Sullivan welcomed the Department of Tourism asking retailers to consider suspending the sale of disposable barbecues during the warm, dry weather.