Wildfire reignites on Slievenamon in Ireland as crews return to the mountain

A wildfire on Slievenamon in County Tipperary has reignited after being subdued overnight, prompting fire services to request aerial support again. Flames increased in the area on Tuesday morning after crews had been moved off the mountain for safety reasons during the night. The fire had spread from gorse into oak forestry on Monday, but favourable weather conditions briefly helped slow its advance.

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Acting Senior Assistant Chief Fire Officer Carol Kennedy of Tipperary Fire and Rescue Service said the blaze had been subdued after overnight conditions improved, including fog at about 4am. She said the fire had "taken off" in gorse before reaching oak forestry, but it had not spread deeply into the woodland because of the weather. Crews from Clonmel, Cahir and Carrick-on-Shannon are expected to return, alongside Coillte personnel and an Air Corps helicopter that had already been involved in efforts to bring the fire under control.

Kennedy said crews were withdrawn from the mountain overnight for safety reasons, while maintaining a presence to protect life and property. She said there is no current threat to residents, although smoke remains heavy in the area. People living nearby have been advised to keep windows and doors shut, and to check on anyone with respiratory problems.

The fire service also urged the public to take extra care around natural areas and to remove rubbish and barbecues when leaving. The incident highlights the continuing risk posed by wildfires in upland and forestry areas, where dry vegetation can allow flames to spread quickly. Slievenamon is a prominent mountain in County Tipperary, and the fire has already affected both gorse and oak forestry.

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The involvement of local fire crews, forestry personnel and an Air Corps helicopter shows the scale of the response needed when a blaze moves across open mountain ground and into wooded areas. The fire also raises practical concerns for nearby communities, even where there is no immediate danger to homes. Smoke can affect air quality and create problems for people with breathing conditions, which is why residents have been told to keep their homes closed.

The response reflects a wider pattern in which Irish fire services and land managers must balance suppression efforts with crew safety when conditions on steep or remote terrain change quickly. What remains unclear is the cause of the fire, which Kennedy said may never be known. The immediate focus is on containing the renewed flames and limiting further spread through the forestry.

Crews are expected to continue operations through the day, with weather conditions likely to remain an important factor in whether the blaze can be brought fully under control.

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