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Image of fire service at Comeragh fire earlier this week Waterford City and County Council
Waterford
Public asked to avoid Comeragh Mountains with blaze expected to continue over weekend
The fire is likely to continue burning over the weekend, though there is currently no risk to homes or other buildings.
LAST UPDATE | 31 Jul
THE PUBLIC HAS been urged to avoid the Comeragh Mountains area as fire services continue to battle a wildfire.
In an update this evening, Waterford County Council said that operations remain difficult and labour-intensive due to the steep and inaccessible terrain.
Fire crews are concentrating on containing the fire and preventing any further spread.
“Wind direction remains changeable but is currently favourable to firefighting efforts and conditions will continue to be closely monitored,” the statement read.
“Fire Service operations will continue over the Bank holiday weekend, with all available resources being deployed as required. There remains no risk to homes or other buildings.”
A gorse fire in the Mahon Falls area of the Comeragh Mountains was originally reported on Sunday, 26 July.
Crews successfully prevented the fire from spreading into nearby forestry despite a significant area of gorse having been burned.
An additional hillside fire was then reported on Thursday in the Comeragh Mountains, adjacent to the Coumshingaun Loop Walk.
In a statement on Thursday, Waterford City and County Council remarked that there is a “significant amount of smoke in the Kilclooney area”.
In a statement this morning, the council said this hillside fire in the Comeragh Mountains remains active.
It added that the situation was monitored overnight and fire crews are again on scene today.
A council spokesperson said the fire is burning “across difficult and, in places, inaccessible terrain, some distance on foot from the nearest access points”.
The fire is likely to continue burning over the weekend, though the council said there is currently no risk to homes or other buildings.
The council added that weather conditions, including wind direction, are being closely monitored, as this could impact the movement of smoke in the surrounding area.
Members of the public have been urged to avoid the Kilcloone and Coumshingaun area and not to undertake the Coumshingaun Loop Walk while firefighting operations continue.
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