Kildare bog fire burns for more than a week
Helicopter and Bambi bucket putting out the fire at the Rathconnell bog
A BOG fire in Rathconnell near Nurney has continued to smoulder for more than a week, with firefighters called out repeatedly as residents fear the blaze could spread to nearby homes.
The fire began on Saturday, August 8, in a group of trees surrounded by heather on the bog opposite homes in Rathconnell. Local resident Lorraine Kelly, who lives directly across from the affected area, said the fire has repeatedly appeared to die down before reigniting.
“We could smell smoke that day but we couldn’t see where the smoke was coming from,” she said. “It’s only that evening I looked upstairs and I seen flames.” Fire crews have since returned to the area several times, including a lengthy operation on Sunday, when they spent much of the afternoon and evening tackling pockets of smoke beneath the trees.
A helicopter equipped with a Bambi bucket was also brought in last Thursday to drop water on the fire. The helicopter, which came from Galway, operated for several hours and collected water from local ponds.
However, Lorraine said the fire appeared to persist underground in the peat.
She said the fire has caused considerable concern for nearby residents, particularly during periods when smoke and flames have been visible from their homes.
“There was one night and the sky was orange,” she said. “We could hear the trees burning.” Lorraine said smoke and ash have also reached her property, forcing the family to keep their windows.
“You could see the burnt leaves of all the trees coming into our yard and falling on our roof,” she said.
She believes the dry conditions have made the area particularly vulnerable to fire, describing the bog as “a tinderbox” following a prolonged period without significant rainfall.
As of Monday, there was no visible smoke from the affected area, but Lorraine remains concerned that the fire could reignite if conditions remain dry.
While some rain fell locally on Sunday evening, she said significantly more rainfall would be needed to properly saturate the bog.
Lorraine said her family has experienced several sleepless nights watching the flames and smoke from their home.
“It’s only when you’re in that position you realise how scary it is,” she said.
“We’ve had a few sleepless nights now, wondering where is this going to end.”
