Nature Minister Condemns ‘illegal’ Fire within Wicklow Mountains

"Nesting season is a time for growth and for the future survival of our rarest birds and wildlife. That makes this act particularly cruel.”

A Garda investigation is underway into a fire that ripped through an open hillside in Piperstown last week.

The area impacted, within the Wicklow Mountains National Park, is more than 50 times the size of Croke Park.

Emergency services were on site for 24 hours tackling the fire, with allegations the blaze was started intentionally.

Christopher O'Sullivan told East Coast FM news he'll do everything in his power to make sure those responsible will be held accountable.

In a statement this afternoon the Minister for Nature and Biodiversity outlined:

 “An illegal fire destroyed 66 hectares of land within Wicklow Mountains National Park, the equivalent of an area more than 50 times the size of Croke Park. This utterly reckless act put homes and lives at risk, diverted essential emergency services, and devastated vulnerable habitats, water quality and wildlife in the middle of the nesting season."

Minister O'Sullivan has also expressed thanks to those who helped and brought the blaze under control:

“I’m so grateful to the emergency services and NPWS personnel who put their lives at risk for us in situations like this, and I’d like to commend the member of the public who reported the fire."

The report triggered an emergency response from the Dublin Fire Brigade. Members of the National Parks and Wildlife Service also quickly attended the scene, along with Coillte personnel. 

The Wicklow Mountains National Park was quick to suggest the fire was not caused by “a glass bottle, cigarettes, or a barbecue”. A posting on its social media last Friday outlines  

“This fire was lit intentionally, destroying hundreds of hectares of habitat and all associated animals and insects and plants within it.”

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