After dry start to 2023: Gorse fires spread in Ireland

Multiple wildfires have burned through regions of southwest Ireland this week after a dry start to the year.

Over 20 wildfires were recorded by the European Forest Fire Information System, part of the EU’s Copernicus service, predominantly in the southwest.

These have combined to cover over 1,000 hectares of land while thus far sparing any properties.

Vegetation is dry in the country after an abnormally dry February prompting drought warnings.

Many of the outbreaks are due to gorse fires. Gorse is a very flammable shrub which grows across Ireland.

Strong south-easterly winds helped spread these fires as they began this week in County Cork and County Kerry.

These fires are regularly purposely ignited ahead of a deadline on March 1st prohibiting burns into the spring and summer seasons.

Farmers actively burn gorse shrubs as a way to promote fresh growth, particularly ahead of lambing season this spring.

Wildfires spread across much of Europe last summer with around 130,000 hectares burned on the continent with France, Spain, and Portugal particularly affected following heatwaves and drought.