Killarney fires under control as questions remain over how blaze was tackled

Questions are being raised locally as to why the county’s emergency plan was not activated on Saturday in a situation that saw one-third of the national park burnt

Three Air Corps helicopters and two private - including one from Scotland - have been bringing the fires under control on Monday. Thousands of acres of Killarney National Park have been burnt. Photo: Valerie O'Sullivan

The three-day fire which raged through Killarney National Park was finally brought under control today but questions remain about why the county's emergency plan was not activated on Saturday and why only limited air support was initially deployed.

Kerry’s chief fire officer Andrew Macilwaith said air support had been key to bringing the fires under control with five helicopters on the scene on Monday - three Air Corps helicopters and two private including one from Scotland.