Fire services battle mountain fires in Gougane Barra

Acres of forestry and upland nesting areas were destroyed.

Gougane Barra is burning tonight-time to stop the fires @rtenews @saolodheas @farmersjournal @Buailtin @TG4TV pic.twitter.com/CL4k3Jx7U7

— Gougane Barra Hotel (@gouganebarra) April 23, 2017

Kerry’s assistant chief fire officer John Hegarty, who was on duty trying to co-ordinate resources to fight the fires, said at least 50 personnel were involved in ighting fires from Knocknagoshel in the north of the county to Tuosist in the southern-most Beara peninsula on Friday night and Saturday.

Fires burned on both sides of Kenmare Bay. Between 10 and 15 acres of forestry were destroyed and a number of houses were threatened at one point, though this was contained.

Coast guard helicopter just flew over head. Must be heading for #gouganebarra - stay safe emergency crews. Horrible criminal act.

— Sandra Murphy (@sandramurphy999) April 23, 2017

Fire crews and tenders from Listowel, Castleisland, Sneem, Kenmare, Killarney and Tralee were all out.

The fires were all around the southern peninsulas and a there was close liaison with West Cork where crews from Bantry attended a number of fires in the Shehy mountain border area with Kerry, Mr Hegarty said.

Crews were also called to fight gorse fires in the Beaufort areas of mid-Kerry and at Shrone Rathmore in east Kerry.

Mr Hegarty said it was a major challenge for the fire service to not only contain fires over vast areas of the countryside but to also have protection for urban areas and to have units available to attend road traffic crashes.

“We want the brigades back in the major towns,” he said.

It is not known what caused so many fires, but fine weather is believed to have encouraged the burning of the upland gorse, locals say.