Fire fighters battle to control woodland blaze

A FAMILY had to be evacuated from their home after a forest in North Cork went on fire yesterday.

The fire in woodland at Toureen, Killavullen, near Mallow, broke out at around 4pm.

Fire brigade units from Mallow, Mitchelstown and Fermoy were called to the blaze and they were still trying to get it under control at 10pm last night. The fire also spread to nearby Glenville.

Fire fighters expected the blaze to be quenched by midnight last night if the wind didn’t pick up again.

Gardaí last evening blocked off roads in the area so fire crews had direct access to the scene.

It’s believed that hundreds of acres of remote mountainous land were covered in smoke.

The fire is likely linked to the recent spell of hot weather. A garda spokesman said no person was ever in danger from the fire.