A “DEVASTATING” WILDFIRE at Killarney National Park is the result of human activity, Nature Minister Christopher O’Sullivan said.

The fire broke out in the park on Tuesday. Emergency services battled throughout the evening to bring it under control.

The worst of the damage was caused to the area of Five Mile Bridge on the N71 Killarney-Kenmare road, the county council said.

O’Sullivan said the fire is not a natural disaster. For days, the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) have been battling fires believed to have been started by the “reckless use of disposable barbecues”, he said, condemning this as “utterly unacceptable”.

Lighting fires or using disposable barbecues in a national park or any wild area goes beyond carelessness, he continued, calling it “gross irresponsibility – especially during a heatwave”.

“It is a crime against nature, against local communities and against future generations who have the right to inherit these precious landscapes intact.

“The message is simple: leave these places as you found them or better, and leave no trace.”

He thanked the NPWS staff, firefighters and emergency services who worked to contain the fire.