Madigan highlights satellite images of Wicklow fires

Josepha Madigan, T.D., Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, today drew attention to satellite images taken by the European Space Agency of the devastating wildfires in Wicklow in recent days.

Drawing attention to the images, Ms Madigan said: “There is an Orange Fire Alert in place until the 20th of April and these images convey graphically the scale of destruction, devastation and loss of plant and animal life wrought by illegal wildfires.”

National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) staff in Wicklow worked with the Fire Service, battling several separate blazes in recent days. There have been five significant fires in the region since Good Friday. One of the fires burned over several days last week and the emergency response thus far has involved Fire Service, NPWS and helicopter support to battle them.

Based on the initial analysis, all five fires would appear to be agricultural in nature. Ms Madigan added that NPWS officials are preparing cross-compliance reports for the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine.

She stressed that to needlessly tie up the State’s resources during the pandemic in this way is both reckless and irresponsible. She noted that, as custodians of nature, the vast majority of farmers and landowners respect the law on burning, and are sensitive to our natural heritage. The Minister wants to encourage others to follow their example.

ENDS

Note to editors

Image 1: True colour satellite image of an active fire (3km north of Glendalough, County Wicklow, 15/04/20.)

Image 2: Shortwave infrared satellite image of the same active fire scene showing flames progressing up slope (3km north of Glendalough, County Wicklow, 15/04/20.)

Image 3: Shortwave infrared satellite image of the post- fire burn scar with an area of 114 acres (3km north of Glendalough, County Wicklow, 15/04/20.)

Image 4: Shortwave infrared satellite image of other large post-fire burn scars acres from separate fires near Ballyknockan (4km south-east of Ballyknockan village, County Wicklow, 15/04/20)

Image Credits

“European Union, contains modified Copernicus Sentinel data 2020, processed with EO Browser”

Note to Editors:

These multi-spectral images were captured by the European Union Copernicus Sentinel-2 satellites. Recently burned land reflects strongly in the infrared bands of the Sentinel satellite imaging sensors, making the resulting imagery very valuable for mapping and evaluating fire damage.

Copernicus is the European Union's Earth Observation Programme, looking at our planet and its environment for the ultimate benefit of all European citizens. It offers information services based on satellite Earth Observation and in situ (non-space) data.

The Programme is coordinated and managed by the European Commission. It is implemented in partnership with the Member States, the European Space Agency (ESA), the European Organisation for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites (EUMETSAT), the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF), EU Agencies and Mercator Océan.

Vast amounts of global data from satellites and from ground-based, airborne and seaborne measurement systems are being used to provide information to help service providers, public authorities and other international organisations improve the quality of life for the citizens of Europe. The information services provided are freely and openly accessible to its users.

For more information, see here.