'Very unpredictable': Killarney National Park wildfire flares up again as local roads closed

Flare-ups of the wildfire in Killarney National Park were continuing on Friday. Picture: Kerry County Council

Shovels and water tankers were being used since early morning on Friday to quell an ongoing fire in Killarney National Park. 

The fire, which burned through more than 20 hectares of the park on Tuesday afternoon, is suspected to have been ignited by a disposable barbecue which was used on a ledge overlooking the Long Range area of the park.

Brought under control after six hours, it has proved more difficult to contain than anticipated. 

Early morning on day four on Friday, flare-ups were continuing and fire personnel as well as staff from the National Parks and Wildlife Service were in action in the Five-Mile Bridge area.

The N71 Molls Gap to Muckross Road through the Killarney National Park, which was again closed on Thursday afternoon because of a threat to safety of passing traffic, was open again on Friday.

But the popular tourist route may have to be closed again, Kerry County Council has warned.

Helicopters with bambi buckets — 800 litres of water — were also recalled to the area.

Motorists were urged to avoid the area between Moll’s Gap and Torc Waterfall/Muckross House.

Acting director of roads with Kerry County Council Vincent Horgan said underground fires, wind, and the warm weather had led to flare ups close to the N71 on Thursday.

“It has proven to be very unpredictable,” Mr Horgan said.

Oak, heath and bog have been affected and the concern is for the large swathes of ancient oak woodland which runs from the Cromaglan of the Five-Mile-Bridge.

Monitoring is taking place by the Kerry County Council, the fire service, and the National Parks and Wildlife Service.

The public is urged not to light fires in the park.

It follows another blaze outside Crosshaven in Co Cork earlier this week which also burned through large swathes of land.