Slievenamon wildfire: Resident describes 'terrifying' blaze as smoke reaches Cork city
A major wildfire continues to burn at Slievenamon in Co Tipperary. Picture: Brian Lawless/PA Wire
As a major wildfire burned across Slievenamon, Roz Purcell watched neighbours, farmers and emergency crews rally together to protect homes, livestock and the mountain that has long been at the heart of the local community.
Firefighters are spending a fourth day battling the major wildfire in Co Tipperary, which has spread into an adjoining Coillte forest, with the smell of smoke reported as far away as Cork city.
Tipperary Fire and Rescue Service has been tackling the blaze near Clonmel since it broke out on Monday, supported by Air Corps helicopters dropping water on the flames.
Ms Purcell said the community had been relying on one another as the fire crept closer to homes, adding that she never imagined she would have to pack passports and family photo albums in preparation for a possible evacuation.
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"It was just incredible to watch everyone springing into action," she told RTÉ's .
“It's just community, that's what it is, you rely on your community, people just self-organised, the farmers self-organised, people had machines just making sure that there were no overhanging trees around their houses, it was just incredible to watch, incredible."
She said farmers had organised convoys of slurry tankers to bring water into the forest to help tackle the fire.
“They were there all night; we could hear them at 3am, 4am, just in a constant convoy. They had an amazing system of kind of one in, one out and they were just all night working on the fire with water.”
Ms Purcell described the situation as “absolutely terrifying” and “horrendous”, but said it had also been heartening to see the community come together.
“We're communities that live on Slievenamon and this mountain has a presence. I'm actually going to get upset because it has a presence in our lives. It's really important to us and to just see the destruction on the mountain, it’s horrendous,” she said.
On Wednesday afternoon, Tipperary County Council said a change in wind direction caused the blaze to spread into an adjoining Coillte forest, prompting the deployment of additional resources.
Pat Neville, communications manager at Coillte, said the fire had “progressed significantly through the forest last night, despite the best efforts of crews on the ground supported by a helicopter”.
“The roads are narrow up there, and the terrain. So we're asking people to stay away from the area to keep the roads free to allow access for the emergency services and firefighting crews to access the site,” he told RTÉ's on Thursday.
He said the “immediate focus” is on containing the fire as “quickly and as safely as possible”, adding it is “too early” to assess the extent of the damage to the forest.
Mr Neville said that while the wildfire is “quite a spectacle”, people should not travel to the area.
“Give space and room and particularly access to the firefighting crews and the emergency services to attend the blaze,” he said.
“Also as well to ask people not to fly any drones in the area, as helicopters will again be active today in helping to contain the blaze.”
On Wednesday, Tipperary County Council said that while there is no immediate threat to life, “the situation remains dynamic”, with fire crews remaining in contact with “a limited number” of residents and property owners.
“The protection of public safety and property remains the primary consideration for everyone involved in the response, and Tipperary Fire Service is continually assessing the risks to nearby properties and communities, and they'll deploy resources accordingly.”
Mr Neville thanked local communities for supporting firefighters and emergency services by providing refreshments.
He also expressed frustration that fires such as this continue to occur.
“None of these fires start naturally in Ireland,” he said, pointing to the status orange high fire risk warning in place nationwide.
Describing the countryside as “bone dry”, he urged the public not to light campfires or barbecues or engage in any activity that could spark a blaze.
“We would ask the public, if you see a forest fire, to call the emergency services immediately on 999 and never approach a forest fire either. They spread very quickly, the smoke gets thick very quickly, and it can be very dangerous.”
People living in the wider area, particularly those downwind of the fire, have been advised to keep windows and doors closed and to bring livestock indoors.
Children, older people, pregnant women and those with respiratory or heart conditions have also been advised to take extra precautions.
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