Drones being deployed in midlands to help thwart forest fires

With a Condition Red – Extreme Fire Risk warning having been issued for forest fires this weekend, drones are being deployed in the Slieve Bloom mountains in the midlands as part of fire-fighting technology.

The drones are part of a successful partnership between the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) and Coillte, Ireland’s semi-state commercial forestry company.

The drones have already been in action in the Dublin and Wicklow Mountains this month and are now being deployed in the Slieve Blooms.

WATCH drone footage of the Slieve Blooms

Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht Josepha Madigan said: “I want to take this opportunity to thank the staff of the NPWS who, as essential workers, have been working hard protecting our natural habitats throughout the pandemic response. I am delighted that Coillte are joining us in this initiative to help combat the spread of forest and hill fires during this high-risk period.”

The drones are equipped with cameras that peer through smoke, as well as sensors for wind direction and other weather variables that affect how fires spread. They can capture continuous footage of areas deemed as high risk and spot small fires that otherwise could not have been detected until they had become much larger and harder to contain.

The Slieve Bloom mountains contain a nationally important Nature Reserve, which is home to a range of rare bird and other wildlife species. Nesting birds are particularly vulnerable to fires at this time of year. Coillte also manages a significant area of commercial forestry in the region.

As well as welcoming the ‘eyes in the sky’, Minister Madigan also encouraged the public to be eyes on the ground. “Even planned and/or "controlled" burning can get out of hand very quickly so it is critically important that every member of society realises the damage that can be caused to property and, indeed, the health and welfare of family, neighbours and the wider community, and the responding emergency services. I would urge anyone with any information on fires, no matter how trivial it may seem, to pass any information on to the Gardaí or to the National Parks and Wildlife Service of my Department.”

Padraig O’Donell, Regional Manager with the National Parks and Wildlife Service, said: “The Slieve Bloom Mountains Nature Reserve is, at over 2,300 hectares, Ireland’s largest state-owned Nature Reserve. Much of the greater upland area in the reserve has been designated as a designated Special Protection Area (SPA), of special conservation interest for the hen harrier, a rare Irish bird of prey.

“Other areas of the reserve are designated Special Area of Conservation (SAC) due to the outstanding examples mountain blanket bog in the area. Fires at this time of year can cause massive and long lasting damage to these important habitats and can devastate populations of wild birds such as hen harrier and red grouse.

“We are delighted that Coillte are joining us in this initiative in combatting wildfires during this high-risk period. When these fires happen, there can be huge environmental damage to protected habitats and wildlife. The drones will help us to establish fire outbreaks and keep wildfires from spreading.”

With the forest fire weather warning still in place, Coillte and NPWS are asking people to remain vigilant and report any fires they see to the local fire brigade.

Coillte recommend the following steps to prevent forest fires at this time;

1.DO NOT light fires and be careful of all activity involving fires

2.REPORT any suspicious activity you may observe

3.REPORT any forest fires you see to local fire brigade

4.DO NOT approach forest fires under any circumstance, they are extremely dangerous

5.KEEP access points and forest entrances clear for emergency services