Fire services battling blaze in Wicklow Mountains since 1 this morning

Firefighters have been at the scene since 1am this morning.

Fire services from Bray, Greystones and Blessington stations have been working to contain a blaze at Crone Woods in Wicklow.

Irish Air Corps helicopters have also been in attendance. Earlier today, Wicklow Fire confirmed the helicopters were successfully “reducing the size of the fire at Crone Wood and keeping it out of the forest”.

Executive Helicopters reducing the size of the fire at Crone Wood and keeping it out of the forest pic.twitter.com/yJt4DxQq1d

— Wicklow Fire Service (@FireWicklow) July 19, 2022

Wicklow Fire Service chief Aidan Dempsey told RTÉ News that the fire has been brought under control, and he is hopeful the assistance of the helicopter will enable the fire fighters to extinguish it.

In a post on Twitter, fire services added they were hopeful that “promised rain will finish the job”.

The fire in Crone Wood was extreme during the night, it is hoped helicopters and promised rain will finish the job pic.twitter.com/SEAcL6JezX

— Wicklow Fire Service (@FireWicklow) July 19, 2022

A Fire Danger Notice has been issued by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine and will remain in place until 12pm tomorrow (20th).

The risk is deemed to exist “in all areas where hazardous fuels such as dead grasses and shrub fuels such as heather and gorse exist. A high-pressure ridge currently located to the south west of Ireland will move northward”. Members of the public visiting forests and other recreational sites have been advised to adhere to regulations regarding fire use and not use barbecues or open fires at any stage.

The cause of the fire at Crone Wood is yet to be determined.

Header image via Twitter/Wicklow Fire Services 

READ NEXT: New class action lawsuit claims Skittles are ‘unfit for human consumption’