ORANGE level warning ; Ireland is at extreme risk of wildfires

The European Commission's Copernicus Emergency Management Service (EMS) has warned that Ireland is at extreme risk of wildfires. Ireland, Britain, France, Belgium, the Netherlands and other European countries are showing 'extremely abnormal' status.The Department of Agriculture has issued an orange level bushfire warning due to persistent high pressure weather patterns.

The Defense Force said it had a crew and aircraft available "at all times" to respond to wildfires if needed. The Department considers all areas with a high fire risk, such as dry grasses, heather (evergreen shrubs in the heath family) and gorse (Ulex is a genus of flowering plants in the Fabaceae family) to have a high fire risk. The department said that all areas where the hazard potential exists are considered to be at high fire risk.

Dry weather will continue to set in across Ireland ahead of the expected change over the weekend and the arrival of a low pressure weather system. Recent fires appear to be strongly associated with public recreational activities in high-risk areas and fires in areas associated with turf cutting.

"The public and visitors to recreational areas should not bring barbecues, light fires or engage in any other fire-prone activities during this time," the department said. Anyone visiting recreational areas must "cooperate with all requests relating to fire safety, obey all relevant laws and be careful to park vehicles so as not to obstruct access for emergency vehicles".

The department warned against starting or burning fires in forests and open spaces, disposing of smoking materials responsibly and under no circumstances interfering or fighting fires. The orange warning will remain in place until Monday 12 June.

Met Eireann says the weather will remain warm and sunny this coming weekend. Friday and Saturday nights will see temperatures between 11 and 16 degrees, with Saturday in particular expected to be "very ``hot and humid''," the forecaster said.

“The Air Corps is very aware of wildfire warnings.” “A crew and aircraft are always available and ready to go whenever needed. Their day-to-day role is that they are ready to respond to any tasking - they have the training and equipment to go out to wildfires," the spokesperson said. ``They are ready to respond as needed.''".