Wicklow Fire Service reported it had crews from six stations fighting gorse fires from the Dublin border to Hollywood on Tuesday night, one of several fire fronts in the county. Meanwhile, Dublin Fire Brigade has tackled several wildfires in the Dublin mountains in the past week. Crews from Kildare Fire Service have also dealt with gorse fires in recent days.

Separate fire fronts burning across the Wicklow Mountains yesterday evening pic.twitter.com/spjY9U5Xg7
— Wicklow Fire Service (@FireWicklow) 27 février 2019

Dublin Fire Brigade sub-officer Darren O'Connor said this was not the first time wildfires had happened in February, with several reported last year as well. Warm, dry conditions have lowered fuel moisture in the vegetation, favouring fires, he told RTÉ's Morning Ireland show on Wednesday.

O'Connor said that 28 February is the last day for legal controlled burning on agricultural land.

"Some of the fires we're receiving calls for are controlled burning. They're very well controlled by farmers, this is an act that they carry out every year to clear land and encourage regrowth," he said.

"The ideal conditions have been met for controlled burning in the last week or so because there's no wind. Wind is a big danger if you do controlled burning, the embers can be carried across," O'Connor said. While he did not rule out this happening in the past week, he pointed out that some fires also started along paths used by walkers.

Upland vegetation – a burning issue

Burning 'well controlled by farmers' as dry weather heightens fire risk

Firefighters in Dublin, Wicklow and Kildare have tackled wildfires triggered by dry conditions in the past week, but controlled burning by farmers has been well managed, a fire officer has said.