The N71 Molls Gap to Muckross road through the Killarney National Park in Co Kerry has again closed as fire services respond to wildfire flare-ups.
A fire on Tuesday destroyed 25 hectares of heath, oak and other sensitive habitat.
Monitoring has been taking place by the fire service and the National Parks and Wildlife Service.
Disposable barbecues have been linked to Tuesday’s blaze and retailers have been urged to suspend their sale as a result.
RM Block
In a statement on Thursday, the Department of Enterprise said it “facilitated the circulation of a message to retailers via the Retail Forum. The message asked retailers to consider, on a voluntary basis, suspending the sale and promotion of disposable barbecues during periods when official wildland fire warnings are in place. Further queries should be directed to National Directorate for Fire and Emergency Management”.
While the N71 had reopened at 3pm on Wednesday following the wildfires the Killarney to Kenmare road was closed again from 2pm on Thursday “owing to ongoing fire prevention operations in the area around Five Mile Bridge”, Kerry County Council said.
The road will be closed until further notice, it said.
Motorists are advised to avoid the area and those travelling between Sneem/Kenmare and Killarney are advised to use the R569 and N22.
A water-carrying helicopter was again at the scene.
Retailers are to be urged to suspend the sale of disposable barbecues due to the recent wildfires.
