3,000 hectares of land damaged by fire in 2025
More than 3,000 hectares of land have already been scorched by wildfires across Ireland this year—a stark reminder of the growing threat fire poses to rural areas.
The extensive damage, largely across open bogs and mountainous terrain, has prompted a renewed warning from Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Martin Heydon TD, urging landowners and the public to act responsibly during the ongoing spell of dry weather.
The Department of Agriculture has issued a Condition Orange – High Fire Risk alert, in place until midday Monday, as warm, dry conditions continue to heighten the threat. This is the seventh fire warning of the year, underscoring the severity of the 2025 fire season, which officially began in March with the activation of the Fire Danger Rating System.
Fire Danger Notices issued by the Department give forest owners and land managers time to prepare for oncoming periods of fire risk.
Minister Heydon said, “Given the fire risk on bog and mountain land in Spring, it is important that no one should start an illegal fire in these areas. Wildfires can put homes and livelihoods at direct risk, lead to unnecessary diversions of vital emergency service resources and cause considerable disruption to rural communities, wildlife and habitats.”
“We have seen this unfold for real in some of our rural communities in recent weeks during the unusually dry Spring. Nobody should light fires in bogs, forests or other potentially flammable areas at this time of year,” he added.
It is illegal to burn under the Wildlife Acts between March 1st and August 31st.
