Sitka Spruce and the Fire Risk Debate | Limerick News

A raging wildfire on Slievenamon in County Tipperary, fueled by five days of intense heat and a sudden wind shift, has devastated forests dominated by Sitka spruce—trees experts say are inherently flammable due to their resin and the drained peat beneath them. Ecologist Pádraic Fogarty warns that monoculture forestry makes the landscape dangerously vulnerable, calling for urgent reform toward diverse, resilient ecosystems. Coillte, the forest management body, disputes the claims, insisting all vegetation can burn under extreme conditions and pointing to human-caused ignitions. But with wind overpowering firebreaks, Fogarty’s plea for change rings hollow—unless it hits the industry’s bottom line. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/1d46643f8f060162