Forest Fire Prevention
Reducing the risk of Forest Fire
Every year in Ireland, several hundred hectares of forests and woodland are destroyed by fire.
The highest risk period occurs between February and June, when ground vegetation is dead and dry following winter. For this reason the danger can be extremely high even when it has rained recently.
There are some simple, cost effective steps that forest owners can take to reduce the risk of fire damage to plantations.
These steps include:
1. DO NOT LIGHT FIRES IN OR NEAR WOODLAND
2. PLAN AHEAD
Fire Plans should be developed for all plantations, including a map showing access and assembly points for fire fighting personnel and equipment and potential sources of water.
The plan should also include contact details for the emergency services, local private and Coillte foresters, neighbouring landowners and forest owners in order to summon help should the need arise. Have fire-fighting tools such as beaters and knapsack sprayers to hand and ready to use.
If you do not live in reasonable proximity to your woodland a local caretaker or forest neighbour should also have a copy of the fire plan with your and all the above contact numbers.
3. INSURE YOUR CROP
Forest crops should be insured against losses by fire, particularly as there is no longer a grant scheme which covers the cost of replanting or reconstituting a woodland after fire. In the event of a fire destroying a forest area, the owner would have to replant this area at his/her own cost or face repaying all past grants/premiums for this area to Forest Service.
Check the Online Advertising Directory for a list of Insurance Companies.
4. CHECK FIRE BREAKS
It is the owners’ responsibility to ensure that Fire Breaks surrounding plantations are inspected annually prior to the fire season and maintained in an effective, vegetation free condition.
Ideally Fire Breaks should be at least 6 metres wide.
5. DISCUSS WITH NEIGHBOURS
Cooperation between neighbouring landowners is vital to successful fire prevention.
6. BE VIGILANT
Forest Owners should be particularly vigilant following prolonged dry spells. A period of 24 hours is sufficient to dry out dead moorland vegetation following rain, where windy conditions exist. Where fire is seen in or within the general proximity of any forest area the local Garda and your local private and Coillte foresters should be notified.
For the contact number of private forestry consultants and companies see the Online Directory. For the contact number of your local Coillte forester phone Coillte at 01 2011111.
7. OFFENCE
It is a legal offence to cut, grub, burn or otherwise destroy any vegetation growing on any land not then cultivated between 1st day of March and 31st day of August in any year.
8. REPORT LOSSES
If a plantation is destroyed or damaged by fire, the incident should be reported to the nearest Garda Station, your local Coillte or private forester and to the Forest Service.
Met Éireann Fire Weather Index
Met Éireann produces a Fire Weather Index, using a Canadian Model, which assesses the fire risk in an area taking into account current and past weather conditions. It also uses forecast weather information to produce a forecast index.
This Fire Index is of particular interest to forest owners and is available from the Met Éireann website.
(Fire Weather Index is available all year)
The Met Eireann Fire Weather Index consists of 3 indices:
- Fire Weather Index – Overall Fire Risk
- Fine Fuel Moisture Content Index – Indication how fast smaller scrubs and vegetation has dried out
- Initial Spread Index – How difficult it would be for fire to be put out (mainly driven by windspeed)
For more information, listen also to Countrywide radio clip (4th March 2023).
Other Useful Links
- DAFM Fire Management
- DAFM Prescribed Burning Code of Practice – Ireland
- DAFM Forest Fire Risk Warning System
- Land-based wildfire prevention – European Commission (November 2020)
- Wildfire Prevention – Advice for the General Public (DAFM)
- Fire Information for Resource Management System (FIRMS)
- The European Forest Fire Information System (EFFIS)
- The Global Wildfire Information System (GWIS)
- Operational tools for improving efficiency in wildfire risk reduction in EU landscapes (PDF)
Recording of 'Forest Fire Prevention & Control' Webinar
‘Forest Fire Prevention & Control’ – A talk by DAFM Regional Forestry Inspector with the Forest Service.
‘Fire Brigade Perspective on Forest Fires’ – A talk by Senior Assistant Chief Fire Officer with Laois County Fire and Rescue Service, responsible for Operations.