2FM presenter Roz Purcell has described the fear and exhaustion of watching the wildfire burn close to her and her family’s homes in Co Tipperary.
In a series of Instagram stories shared on Wednesday, Purcell said embers had begun falling near houses as local farmers and residents worked to protect properties and create firebreaks.
“I hope no one ever has to go through this,” an emotional Purcell said.
She also urged people not to travel to the area to view the fires, warning that visitors could obstruct emergency services.
Irish Air Corps helicopter provides aerial support by dropping water over the wildfire
“If you are thinking of coming to the area to have a look at the fires, don’t,” she said.
“They’ve closed off all the roads because there was a huge amount of people here last night and obviously the roads need to be clear for emergency services.”
Purcell explained that her parents and her sister Rachel live at the foot of Slievenamon, while she and another sister have homes higher up, close to the treeline and surrounded by forestry.
She said heavy smoke had made it difficult to judge how close the fire was or where it was moving.
“It’s kind of scary not knowing what’s happening,” she said.
“I feel like I’ve smoked about 900 cigarettes in the past 24 hours. The smoke is really bad right here, so definitely don’t come over for a look.”
In a later update, Purcell said belongings had been packed and residents were working with machinery to widen firebreaks as embers began to fall around homes.
She said local farmers had arrived with tanks and slurry tankers filled with water to help protect properties and move animals from the mountain.
“We would actually be lost without them,” she said. “It’s just people who live here.”
Purcell also praised firefighters and Air Corps crews, saying helicopters had continued to make water drops over the mountain.
She said firefighters had not yet reached the road where the houses were located, adding that there “must be a valid reason” and praising the crews she had met as “so lovely”.
Becoming emotional, Purcell said she was “just exhausted” after helping move belongings and prepare for the possibility that the fire could reach nearby homes.
The wildfire spread into a Coillte forestry plantation on Slievenamon on Wednesday, with fire and rescue services focusing their efforts on preventing the blaze from spreading further.
Speaking on RTÉ’s Morning Ireland on Thursday, Coillte Communications Manager Pat Neville said it was “too early” to assess the damage to the forest, with the immediate priority remaining to contain the fire.
He said Coillte crews, contractors, Tipperary Fire and Rescue Service and other emergency responders remained on site, adding that the situation could change quickly.
Neville said protecting public safety and nearby properties remained the primary focus, with Tipperary Fire and Rescue Service continuing to assess the risk to homes and deploy resources accordingly.