A Status Orange High Forest Fire warning has been Issued for Easter Weekend.

The Department of Agriculture said the recent dry weather has increased the risk of fire in “all areas where dead grasses and dry heather and gorse exist.”

The risk is expected to peak on Easter Sunday and the warning will remain in force until noon on Tuesday.

The department said the risk is mainly associated with the illegal burning of waste and increased footfall in the countryside over the holiday weekend.

Coillte has warned that all outdoor use of fire on forest lands, including for barbeques and campfires, should be avoided until further notice.

Earlier this week, Coillte spokesperson Mick Power said the vast majority of Irish forest fires are caused by human activity.

“Easter can be a peak time for forest fires as people venture out to visit woodlands over the holiday,” he said.

“We have seen a doubling to tripling of visitors to some of Coillte’s most popular forests since lockdown began. An unextinguished barbecue, campfire or burning of lands can be the start of a large and unintended blaze.”

Meanwhile, landowners are being warned that it is illegal to burn vegetation between March and August.

Anyone caught setting vegetation fire can be fined and imprisoned. They could also see their farm payments cut.