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2019 Wildfire and Gorsefire thread. [Ireland & International]

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  • Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators Posts: 11,766 Mod ✭✭✭✭Meteorite58


    Smoke from gorse fires in Donegal showing up well on NASA Sat pic today.

    xr5a8TT.jpg?1


  • Registered Users Posts: 8,219 ✭✭✭Gaoth Laidir


    Smoke (FU) was reported for several hours in the Donegal Airport METARs today.

    METAR EIDL 221400Z 15019KT CAVOK 21/08 Q0998=
    METAR EIDL 221330Z 16020KT 9999 FU NSC 21/09 Q0999=
    METAR EIDL 221300Z 17021KT 8000 FU NSC 20/07 Q0999=
    METAR EIDL 221230Z 16022KT 9000 FU NSC 20/07 Q0999=
    METAR EIDL 221200Z 15022KT 7000 FU NSC 20/07 Q0999=
    METAR EIDL 221130Z 15022KT 5000 FU NSC 19/06 Q0999=
    METAR EIDL 221100Z 14025KT 9999 FU NSC 18/07 Q1000=
    METAR EIDL 221030Z 16026KT 8000 FU NSC 18/07 Q1000=
    METAR EIDL 221000Z 15026KT 9999 FU NSC 18/07 Q1000=
    METAR EIDL 220930Z 15026KT CAVOK 17/07 Q1000=


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 310 ✭✭BlackandGreen


    So as the day draws to a close it looks like we've seen several more gorse fires pop up throughout the day.


    sOZl8BF.jpg

    In Donegal it seems a lot of people are very unhappy at the states response, citing it as been far too slow and too late.

    I'm seeing pictures of most of the locals out fighting the fires themselves with shovels. One fire crew got trapped. Unknown amount of property destroyed. Even private helicopters hired.

    Army summoned too but they're saying it's contained for now.



    Bit of a disaster.



    D4xf6QOXoAAq_Y2.jpg


    D4xpUFrXkAIbnIi.jpg


    D4milqkXsAAx1hz.jpg


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 310 ✭✭BlackandGreen


    https://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/gardai-warn-border-works-road-in-killarney-closed-due-to-gorse-fire-919371.html


    Killarney gorse fire.



    Honestly, I feel like as a nation we aren't equipped for large scale wildfire operations. Our fire services seem largely under prepared. Not to mention every garda, ambulance and fire brigade in donegal is probably involved.

    Resources are stretched.


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  • Registered Users Posts: 2,023 ✭✭✭Donegal Storm


    Huge plumes of smoke all day across west Donegal, seems to be under control now but was raging all day. A few helicopters doing the rounds but loads of tankers and farmers with slurry tanks flying about the roads so seems to have been a community effort more than anything.

    Overheard someone speaking on the phone saying two of her neighbours houses were badly damaged but haven't heard more than that


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 18,268 ✭✭✭✭ Desiree Wailing Racket


    I saw 2 from my house in North Kerry.


  • Registered Users Posts: 16,551 ✭✭✭✭nacho libre


    I saw one yesterday in West Mayo. It was well away from any houses so it was left to burn


  • Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators Posts: 11,766 Mod ✭✭✭✭Meteorite58


    Is this accurate I wonder that it broke out again today, no mention on RTE

    https://twitter.com/StormchaserUKEU/status/1120682783649804288


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 310 ✭✭BlackandGreen


    Is this accurate I wonder that it broke out again today, no mention on RTE

    https://twitter.com/StormchaserUKEU/status/1120682783649804288


    Doubt it's accurate. Not seeing anything on twitter, or even on AA roadwatch for road closures.

    More than likely that's from yesterday.



    The fire radar linked above is still showing some orange spots. But I honestly don't quite understand how to read the map correctly.


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  • Registered Users Posts: 5,480 ✭✭✭giveitholly


    The ballyhoura mountains in kilfinane Co Limerick are ablaze,seen pictures on facebook


  • Registered Users Posts: 7,796 ✭✭✭Calibos


    Maulin Wicklow Mountains ablaze again tonight. Beside Powerscourt Waterfall. Can see the Fire line from my Attic Velux down near Bray Seafront.


  • Registered Users Posts: 32,634 ✭✭✭✭Graces7


    They need to catch the fire raisers and fine them heavily. I lived on the edge of the National Park in Kerry and one year there were fires in three directions. A terrible dawning/ The devastation to wild life is unthinkable.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 310 ✭✭BlackandGreen


    Good article on the Journal.ie about gorsefires in Ireland.

    https://www.thejournal.ie/wildfires-donegal-legislation-4606187-Apr2019/


    Another thing I've noticed last year is the amount of fires I came across on the side banks of the motorway. I presume mostly from people chucking their cigarettes out the window.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 310 ✭✭BlackandGreen


    Saw this this morning but couldn't post until home from work.



    Orange forest fire warning issued by Dept. of Agriculture.


    Condition: Orange - high fire risk



    Warning Effective From 1200hrs 13/05/201

    Effective Period Expires 1200hrs 17/05/2019


    1sr767G.png


  • Registered Users Posts: 6,107 ✭✭✭highdef


    Do we have a noticeboard system as operated in many other countries whereby if you are entering a public park/forest/etc, you encounter a suitably placed board that informs anyone entering the area of the fire risk on that day?

    warning-sign-AD4K9K.jpg


  • Registered Users Posts: 2,671 ✭✭✭Rougies


    No, I've never seen a sign like that. Coillte did put up "red warning - fire ban" notices at their Dublin mountain forests last year.


  • Registered Users Posts: 6,107 ✭✭✭highdef


    Rougies wrote: »
    No, I've never seen a sign like that. Coillte did put up "red warning - fire ban" notices at their Dublin mountain forests last year.

    Could be a decent system to have so that visiting public to forests/parks can have an indication what level we are at, not just when it's at a danger level. Most people don't actively check online or wherever to see what the current status is so if everyone has to pass one of these signs entering a forest/park (most likely controlled or owned by Coillte or the government), the public would most likely take more heed. Maybe I'm being too optimistic as to how I think humans will perceive the signage and act accordingly :D


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 310 ✭✭BlackandGreen


    In comparison to other countries our national weather warnings are fairly lacking and awareness about things such as fire is pretty much non existent bar just a few people who happen to follow the dept of agriculture on twitter.



    I was surprised to find that Met Éireann don't even have fire condition warnings on their website.



    A system like that would be great, it could just be an attachment notice to the typical coillte information board found at the start of nearly all walking/biking trails.


  • Registered Users Posts: 32,634 ✭✭✭✭Graces7




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  • Closed Accounts Posts: 310 ✭✭BlackandGreen


    Graces7 wrote: »


    There was also a large gorse fire near Belmullet appearing on the fire map tuesday evening. Appears to be gone now.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 310 ✭✭BlackandGreen


    Todays issue, as expected with the hot weather.


    There are currently 5 noted fires in Ireland on firemaps, today

    https://firms.modaps.eosdis.nasa.gov/map/#z:8;c:-7.6,53.2;d:2019-06-26..2019-06-27



    D-FC3QHWsAEst8m.jpg:large


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 310 ✭✭BlackandGreen


    Meanwhile on mainland Europe the fires have hit Spain particularly hard.


    https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/jun/27/hundreds-of-firefighters-tackle-blaze-in-north-east-spain
    Firefighters battled wildfires at a scale not seen for 20 years in Spain and southern France was placed on unprecedented red alert as much of western Europe sweltered in an extreme early-summer heatwave on Thursday.
    With temperatures in northern Spain and southern France set to exceed 44C, governments urged their citizens to take the utmost precaution, warning that in some areas the worst was yet to come.


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