Large wildfires break out in Ireland

7:16 p.m. EDT April 25, 2021

Windy weather has caused a number of vegetation fires to spread rapidly in Ireland.

Northern Ireland

One of the most visible wildfires is in Northern Ireland in the Mournes Mountains just south of Newcastle. After three days, firefighters have brought the Slieve Donard blaze under control after it burned an area “the size of 500 football pitches,” about 880 acres. The Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service (NIFRS) said the fire is no longer considered a major incident.

Coast Guard helicopters were used for gathering intelligence and transporting personnel.

The fire burned in gorse, a yellow-flowered spiny shrub, and heather, also a small shrub. More than 100 firefighters were assigned during the peak of activity.

Southern Ireland

Two fires have burned about one-third of Killarney National Park, approximately 2,000 hectares (4,942 acres) are blackened according to an estimate by the park’s Chief Fire Officer.

From the Irish Examiner on April 25, 2021:

“There are now signs that the fire will continue to blaze for a third night. Indeed, the Air Corps has been booked for tomorrow to help douse the flames from the air, taking water from lakes in the National Park.

” “The damage is horrendous,” Andrew Macilwraith, Chief Fire Officer, said. “Not only have some of the oldest oak trees in Ireland been destroyed but also the habits of thousands of animals have also been destroyed.”

“His officers were dealing with three fires this morning, and they are now dealing with two.

“The lower fire in a place called Oak Wood, which is home to some of the oldest oaks in the country, is now out. That was put out by the Air Corps dropping water from above and by using crews ferried to the fire by members of Killarney Water Rescue.

“Two fires are currently burning at a high, and inaccessible level in the lark, namely around Purple Mountain.”

A private helicopter, run by Executive Helicopters, was brought in by the National Parks.