‘We can’t keep putting lives in jeopardy’

Councillors from the Glenties Municipal District have stressed there is a series of issues with gorse fires that must be addressed - or there will be deadly consequences.

With the current hot snap, there were a number of fires in the county this month, with fire services stretched almost to breaking point as all units were out at jobs on occasion, leaving none at base to deal with possible domestic fires or accidents.

The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine issued a fire danger notice, condition orange, for all areas where hazardous fuels such as gorse, heather, dried grasses, and other vegetation exist, last week.

Gorse fires were reported in Creeslough, Dunfanaghy, Bunbeg and Ballindrait over the last fortnight and although there were no injuries or damage to property, it is felt that far too much is being left to chance.

A Saturday fire at Killahoey, Dunfanaghy, is understood to have been started by a barbecue on the grass, and it took two fire units - Falcarragh, which was assisted by Letterkenny - as well as assistance from local farmers who raced to the scene to bring the blaze under control.

“This was clearly started by a barbecue on the grass area, which was a complete lack of care or respect for the area,” Independent Michael McClafferty, Cathaoirleach of the Glenties MD, says. “People need to show more caution.”

“As well as great work from the fire service, local farmers raced to the scene with their slurry tanks, and without a doubt, this was a great help in containing the fire. The fire services could then cover the perimeter at ease, creating a fire belt as such to give the firefighters a chance as well as they were under pressure to save the golf course and beach dunes.

“If this were to happen at nighttime, where you have people sleeping in tents and campervans, then it’s a different ball game and there could’ve been a completely different outcome. This could’ve been an absolute disaster.

“We need to be looking at getting farmers on standby to assist the fire services, with slurry-tankers, which were a huge help in Dunfanaghy and offered assistance the week before in Creeslough.

“These tankers can carry 15,000 litres of water and can be a massive help. Tanks could be filled ready in yards where possible and adaptations could be made to the tanks for spray hoses where possible on certain models of tanks. I will be pursuing this in the future with the council and the fire service. Lakes are not always going to be close enough to be the solution”.

Cllr Denis McGee of the 100% Redress Party was on hand on Sunday to witness a fire in Bunbeg, where a container from Donegal Airport at Carrickfinn was vital in quelling the situation.

“Each MD needs at least one tanker,” he says. “Only for the huge unit at Carrickfinn last week, a house on the Bunbeg Road may well have gone on fire. The fire services have a very tough job and they deserve every penny they get but we can’t keep living in the 1950s. The consequences are deadly.”

Cllr Micheál Choilm Mac Giolla Easbuig was at the coal face back in April 2019 when 15 fire units from throughout the county, as well as an Air Corps helicopter, army personnel from Finner Camp, Civil Defence members and hundreds of local people helped battle a massive blaze, which started at Anagaire and lasted for days.

The fire quickly spread towards the neighbouring villages of Loughanure and Belcruit and towards Dungloe. At one stage, a fire crew became surrounded by the flames in Belcruit and had to wait for support from a helicopter, which doused the area with water, allowing them to get a route out. Two houses and sheds were destroyed at Drumnacart.

“Six years ago, it was the incredible work of the local community that saved the Caisleáin Óir Hotel,” he says. “People were nearly killed. The community showed their resiliency and how much they are willing to help.”

It was Mac Giolla Easbuigh who spoke to the fire services on Sunday, in relation to the Bunbeg fire, to see if they needed public assistance, which they didn’t.

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“We need to have first responders in place for gorse fires,” the independent councillor says. “They are not there to take the paramedics’ position, but because they have the chance to be there first and we must do all we can to save lives and to save homes. The first responders can be there to assist the Fire Service, not replace them. We can’t thank the Fire Services enough.

“It would help a more coordinated response from the community. Sometimes they are so willing to help, they might block a road that is needed for a fire brigade. Proper training would increase awareness and also help people to be safe. This is something I’ve been talking about for some time but senior management are dismissive. We are encouraged to deal with things in a bottom-up way, but the decisions here are being made from top to bottom and it’s too serious of an issue not to be addressed.

Cllr McClafferty said there are issues throughout the county with fire hydrants, where the fire service hook their hoses.

“Sometimes, there are problems with access as certain fire hydrants have been tarred over and are not accessible,” he says.
“Then, the tap must be free to work and not be seized and then there have been issues in regards water pressure, which sometimes isn’t strong enough. All of these are very important, and from what we’re hearing all three are falling down in different places.”

McGee adds: “As well as the hydrants not being obviously marked, the infrastructure of the underground pipes is not strong enough.It means that the water will not be at a strong enough pressure level, and we hear of burst pipes every other week. These need to be replaced be it by the government of Uisce Éireann. In a fire situation, time is of the essence.”

“People also need to take some responsibility,” Cllr McClafferty adds. “There are a lot of dangers that people need to take care of. There are barbecue areas or if not even on sand or solid ground, so avoid the grass. Bottles and cigarettes and people might not realise the dangers of batteries and vapes. People should remember to take their rubbish home and we need to find a range of solutions as we can’t keep putting lives in jeopardy.”