News

Public urged to be vigilant following fire incident at Killarney National Park

Date Released: Thursday, April 3, 2025

The National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) has confirmed it dealt with a fire incident in the Five Mile Bridge area of Killarney National Park yesterday evening, April 2nd. The NPWS responded quickly following reports to assess the damage and worked closely with the fire services to control and quench the fire.   

The Minister of State for Nature, Heritage and Biodiversity Christopher O’Sullivan said:

“This incident is a timely reminder - we all want to get out and enjoy the good weather but let’s do it responsibly and without putting nature, park & emergency services personnel and the general public at risk.  I am appealing to everyone to be vigilant and not to light fires or BBQs in public places. That includes our National Parks and Nature Reserves, coastal sand dunes, mountains and upland areas, forests, meadows and urban parks.

Illegal and uncontrolled fires cause irreparable damage to wildlife, habitats, the environment and also put our communities at risk. Our National Parks protect nature and wildlife in those places where our most treasured and vulnerable species live and make their homes.

The public are often our first responders.  Please contact emergency services on 112 if you notice a fire incident.”

Niall Ó Donnchú, Director General of NPWS said:

“Over the past few years NPWS has really invested in our capacity to respond to fire incidents quickly. This includes increasing the size of our ground crews, widespread use of technology, aerial monitoring and training. Thankfully in this case, local NPWS staff and fire services acted quickly and averted a much more serious incident. I commend them on the alacrity and professionalism of their response.”

We appeal to landowners to be aware of their responsibilities in relation to Special Areas of Conservation and Special Protection Areas where consent to undertake burning at any time is often a requirement, and to their obligations under Section 40 of the Wildlife Acts and burning generally – which is prohibited from 1st March to 31st August. Fires endanger nature and people and the setting of fires in these conditions is dicing with danger and destruction.”