Fire crews battle bog blaze near Portlaoise

FIREFIGHTERS are working to quench a blaze that broke out on a bog near Portlaoise and is still burning underground.

Crews returned to the scene on Cashel Bog near Ballyroan this morning, after bringing the fire under control last night.

Firefighters are using specialist wildfire equipment to cool and extinguish hotspots at the bog, which is located near forestry.

Laois County Fire and Rescue Service said today: ‘Our crews are back mopping up this morning, after a fire last night on a bog near Ballyroan.

‘When fires burn on peatland, they will often spread downwards into the peat, which can result in difficult protracted fires.

‘Personnel are working now using specialist wildfire equipment to cool and extinguish hotspots.’ 

The fire service was alerted at about 6.30pm on Tuesday evening and spent a number of hours working to contain the blaze. Peat fires can burn underground for weeks, so firefighters are working to ensure that there is no further major outbreak.

They will continue to monitor the situation closely until the site, located between Portlaoise and Abbeyleix, is deemed safe.

With the extended heatwave, the county's fire service has attended more than 20 incidents relating to gorse, grass, bog, forest and hay fires since the start of July, including a major meadow blaze at Smiths Field in Mountmellick that threatened to spread to homes in the nearby Kirwan Park housing estate.

Laois County Fire and Rescue Service has repeatedly urged people to take extreme care during the hot weather, particularly in relation to cigarettes and naked flames. Disposable barbecues are especially dangerous and should not be used.