Howth gorse blaze contained, says fire service

Firefighters are continuing to tackle a gorse fire on Howth Hill, Co Dublin this afternoon.

A spokeswoman for the Dublin Fire Brigade said there are four fire trucks and two water tanks fighting the blaze, which is currently under control. "It's being contained," she said.

The fire brigade had been attempting to bring the fires under control since yesterday evening. Last night a spokesman said the job of battling the blaze had been complicated by the absence of an adequate water supply. “As always, water supply is a problem,” he said.

Some houses may have been at risk earlier in the evening but this threat had passed, he said. The priority when fires such as these break out was domestic dwellings, infrastructure, and items of natural value, he said.

“I’m told there were some rare rhododendrons under threat earlier on but that was about the extent of it,” he added.

Gorse fires typically occur during periods of sustained hot weather and the spokeswoman said the fire brigade will shortly issue a statement on outdoor fire dangers during the current dry spell.