The main tourist road through Killarney National Park, the N71 Killarney to Kenmare Road, running between the Moll’s Gap tourist car park and Torc Waterfall is again closed this Sunday as helicopters and firefighters return to try and contain fire hot spots.
Irish Corps helicopters are again at the scene drawing 800-litre water from the Upper Lake to “douse” recurrent hot spots in the rocky mountainous terrain.
The fire which began on Tuesday late afternoon alongside the Long Range River area viewing point has proved “unpredictable” and difficult to contain.
The road sees hundreds of cars and coaches this time of year, but it has had to be closed to traffic a number of times as flare-ups travelling underground reach the road. Rocks where vegetation has burned are holding the heat, acting like coal, and leading to smouldering, according to personnel at the scene.
The fire burned through over 20 hectares of the park on Tuesday afternoon and is suspected to have been ignited by a disposable barbecue which was used on a ledge overlooking the Long Range area of the park.
Gardaí are investigating.