Firefighters tackling ‘significant’ Slievenamon fire for fourth day

Firefighters are spending a fourth day tackling a “significant” and “large” mountain wildfire in Co Tipperary, which has spread to an adjoining forest.

Crews remained on Slievenamon mountain overnight, Tipperary County Council said on Thursday.

In a statement, the council said that while the efforts of firefighters mean conditions have stabilised, the fire is expected to increase as temperatures rise during the day.

There is “no immediate threat to life”, it continued.

Firefighters have been trying to extinguish the blaze in the Slievenamon area, near Clonmel, since it broke out on Monday.

The Air Corps has provided aerial support, including dropping buckets of water on the flames in a bid to stop them spreading.

On Wednesday afternoon, Tipperary County Council said a change in the wind direction had caused it to spread to an adjoining Coillte forest and additional resources were brought in.

On Thursday the semi-state forestry company said a “significant wildfire” remains active on the mountain.

It said personnel remain at the scene alongside Tipperary Fire and Rescue Service and Air Corps crews and said two helicopters are supporting operations from the air.

Speaking on RTÉ radio on Thursday morning, Coillte communications manager Pat Neville said it had “progressed significantly through the forest yesterday night, despite the best efforts of crews”.

He told the Morning Ireland programme the “immediate focus” is on containing the fire as “quickly and as safely as possible”, adding it is “too early” to assess the damage to the forest.

On Wednesday, the council said fire crews were in contact with “a limited number” of residents and property owners.

In social media posts, firefighters have thanked the local community in Killurney for providing refreshments and allowing them to use their community hall.

People living in the wider area, particularly those downwind, are being advised to keep windows and doors closed and where possible, move animals away from smoke-affected areas.

Vulnerable people including children, pregnant and older people and those with respiratory or heart conditions have been told they should take extra precautions.

Members of the public have been asked to stay away from the area to avoid creating “unnecessary risks” and have been told the use of drones in the area, which can interfere with the work of firefighters, is “strictly prohibited”.

Mr Neville said access to the site is “challenging”, with narrow roads and steep terrain. He said they are asking people to stay away to keep the roads free so emergency services can access the site.

He said while it is “quite a spectacle” he urged the public not to approach the area at all.

Describing the fire as “significant and very large”, he said it could cause “extensive” ecological damage to wildlife and habitats, and it could take “years” for the area to recover.

He said “none of these fires start naturally in Ireland” and pointed to the status orange high forest fire risk warning which remains in effect until Friday.

He added that the countryside is “bone dry” and asked the public not to light any outdoor fires at all.

Even a small fire can “get out of control very quickly and can have very serious consequences”, he said.

The council has asked the public to avoid the River Anner at Thorney Bridge as emergency services are using that stretch of river to draw the water they need to fight the fire.

It also called on the public not to rely on unofficial reports or speculation regarding the incident.