Gorse fires rage across peninsula

Local firefighters were once again out in force at the weekend as more gorse fires raged right throughout in the peninsula. Crews from Buncrana, Moville, Carndonagh and Derry were stretched to capacity as they battled a number of blazes on Friday and Sunday. On Friday, between 12.15pm and 7.55pm, four crews attended fires at Clonmany; Moville/Greencastle; Clamperland, Buncrana, Ballymagan and Drumaville, Malin with many blazing simultaneously and requiring crews to “go from pillar to post” between them. Additionaly, on Sunday, two appliances from Buncrana were dispatched to Mindoran, Clonmany at 7.20pm to tackle a gorse fire. It was brought under control at 8.55pm. Speaking to the “Inish Times,” Donegal Chief Fire Officer Bobby McMenamin urged the public to be careful when lighting fires and said the latest incidents were being investigated. “The weather is a contributing factor as it has been very dry in recent days. “However, we would also ask people to be very careful when lighting fires and please do not being doing so maliciously. While a number of these fires were accidental, a few of them were started. “I would also like to remind everyone that as part of the Wildlife Act, it is a criminal offence to burn vegetation etc from March 1 to August 31 and anyone who does so is liable for prosecution. The incidents at the weekend are being investigated.”