A major fire which broke out on sand dunes near Tramore, Co Waterford, has caused significant damage to wildlife and habitats in the designated area of scientific interest.

Up to 10 hectares of surface area on the eastern side of the sand dunes is believed to have been burnt in the fire which started before 11pm on Sunday and raged for a number of hours before being brought under control by the fire service.

About 25 personnel from fire stations in Tramore, Waterford city, Dunmore East and Kilmacthomas used five pumps and three support vehicles in difficult conditions while they fought the blaze.

“It’s a long way down from where the car park is and they had to hike across the sand burrows with their gear,” senior fire officer Des O’Brien said, paying tribute to the firefighters.

The cause of the fire is unknown although Mr O’Brien said the grass on the dunes is “tinder dry” at the moment and it may have been set off by a discarded cigarette butt.

“It was described . . . as the largest fire they’d ever seen,” added Mr O’Brien.

Impact on wildlife
Such fires happen from time to time on the sand dunes, often caused by camp fires or disposable barbecues which haven't been properly extinguished, but not to the extent of the latest incident.

Tramore-based field ecologist and Green Party candidate Grace O’Sullivan said the marram grass on the dunes hosts a variety of wildlife, including birds such as the skylark.

“The impact is on the wildlife that would be living in that area,” she said, particularly at this time of year when you would have birds nesting.

“In addition to that, you have all the vegetation coverage where they would normally hide out,” said Ms O’Sullivan.

The dunes should regenerate, however, she said.

“In as much as it’s tragic for the moment and species have been displaced and vegetation has been burned, at this time of year the growth will be quite good.

“Within six weeks to three months the vegetation will start to reappear,” she said.

This is partly because the marram grass has roots which are buried up to 1.5 metres into the dune system and will be able to regrow at the surface.

The fire was under control by about 3.30am yesterday, according to the fire service.

It was extinguished at about 4am.

“Hopefully it’s not malicious. It would appear accidental and there were no injuries,” Mr O’Brien said.

Gardaí in Tramore are not treating the blaze as suspicious.