Emergency crews and landowners rally to contain hill fire in Kilkenny
Members of the public are being urged to stay away from the area while firefighters continue their work...
A huge community effort overnight helped contain a blaze in the vicinity of one of Kilkenny's most scenic landmarks, Tory Hill, easing fears for nearby homes.
Speaking to Kilkenny Live, local councillor Jenny Catt Slattery, who lives in Mullinavat, said the fire broke out on the Slieverue side of Tory Hill.
"Fire brigades are still up there at present," she said. "A water tank was brought up this morning.
"There are quite a lot of houses in the area but thankfully the fire seems to have been contained."
Cllr Slattery praised local landowners for their efforts throughout the night, saying they opened up access to their land for emergency crews and even helped dig out ditches to ensure fire engines could reach the scene as quickly as possible.
She also urged members of the public to stay away from the area while firefighters continue their work.
"I would appeal to everyone now to let the fire service continue their work and do not attempt to visit the site," she said.
"It's very important to be safe so please don't put yourself and others at risk.
"We do not know yet what ignited this fire but if you are outdoors please avoid bringing BBQs or any potential fire hazards."
The fire comes amid heightened concerns over wildfire risks across the region.
Just across the county border in Tipperary, firefighters continue to tackle a significant blaze in the Slievenamon area, with smoke from that fire clearly visible across parts of South Kilkenny yesterday.
The two incidents serve as a reminder of the heightened fire danger during the current spell of dry weather and authorities are continuing to urge the public to exercise extreme caution.
The Kilkenny Live team has contacted Kilkenny Fire Service for further details and comment.