Farmers are being urged to check livestock if they have animals on land in the area around Dublin Mountains as a gorse fire continues to smoulder.

A large gorse blaze broke out last night at the Piperstown Road area of Dublin.

Aerial firefighting involving a helicopter has been involved in the effort to extinguish the blaze today (Thursday, May 28)

Dublin Fire Brigade has stated:

"Firefighter/paramedics are currently fighting a gorse fire off the Piperstown Road in the Dublin Mountains since 0200hrs [2:00a.m] this morning.

"As of 1000 hours [10:00a.m],we have three fire engines, a specialised jeep, a district officer and a drone unit in attendance."

Dublin Fire Brigade is appealing to the public to avoid the area. Roads in the area are reportedly obscured by smoke.

"Please avoid the area and please do not fly drones near the area," a post on Dublin Fire Brigade social media stated.

Residents living in the area who may be affected by smoke, are urged to keep doors and windows closed.

The fire service is also advising farmers in the area to check on their livestock.

Fire risk

Separately, earlier this week during the spell of very hot weather, the Department of Agriculture, Foo and the Marine (DAFM) advised there should be increased vigilance to fire in "areas with open public access, active turf-cutting and other high-risk activities".

It advised at the time that landowners and managers should remain vigilant to all fire activity and report all suspicious activity to An Garda Síochána.

Under the Wildlife Act, it is an offence to cut, grub, burn or otherwise destroy any vegetation growing on any land not then cultivated between March 1 and August 31 in any year.

The department said that visitors to public recreational areas should cooperate with all fire safety requirements and not light open fires or barbeques in high-risk areas.