Minister Christopher O’Sullivan said the fire was caused by 'human activity, not nature'
A wildfire that broke out in the Five Mile Bridge area of Killarney National Park on Tuesday eveningA fire that broke out in Killarney National Park was caused by "human activity", most likely a disposable barbecue.broke out in the Five Mile Bridge area of the gorgeous parklands, ripping through between 20 and 22 hectares of land, almost reaching pockets of native old oak woodland, before it was brought under control by Killarney, Kenmare and Killorglin fire crews along with NPWS staff.air support was also deployed, with helicopters using Bambi buckets to assist ground crews in tackling the blaze.
Thanks to the rapid response and coordinated firefighting efforts, the fire was brought under control and all firefighting operations were stood down at 10:15pm. On Wednesday, NPWS staff continued to assess the affected area, monitoring for any remaining hotspots and determining whether any further firefighting operations are required.
The wildfire was brought under control following a rapid and coordinated response by Kerry Fire and Rescue Service, National Parks and Wildlife Service staffMinister for Nature, Heritage and Biodiversity, Christopher O’Sullivan TD, said: "The devastating fire in Killarney National Park is not a natural disaster – it is caused by human activity, not nature.
"For days, the National Parks and Wildlife Service has been battling fires, including incidents believed to have been started by the reckless use of disposable barbecues. This is utterly unacceptable.
"Lighting fires or using disposable barbecues in a National Park or any wild area is not carelessness, it is gross irresponsibility – especially during a heatwave. It is a crime against nature, against local communities and against future generations who have the right to inherit these precious landscapes intact.
The affected area is estimated to be around 25 hectares in size and includes a mixture of dry heath, wet heath and blanket bog along with pockets of native old oak woodland.
"The message is simple: leave these places as you found them or better, and leave no trace. As Minister for Nature, I take a zero-tolerance attitude towards lighting fires in our national parks and wild places. The damage to biodiversity, wildlife, livelihoods and public safety can be – and too often is – catastrophic.
"My heartfelt thanks go to the NPWS staff, firefighters and emergency services who have worked tirelessly, often in extremely difficult conditions, to contain this fire and protect one of Ireland’s greatest natural assets. "
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