Clare County Fire Service is battling a gorse fire in West Clare this afternoon.
Emergency services were alerted at around ten o’clock this morning after the blaze broke out in the Hand area.
The alarm was raised shortly before ten o’clock this morning when a gorse fire went out of control in the Hand area between Miltown Malbay and Connolly.
Three units of Clare County Fire Service responded and crews are continuing their efforts this afternoon to bring the extensive blaze under control.
Gardaí have now been called to the scene as smoke from the fire has led to poor visibility on roads in the area and the road has been closed to traffic coming from the direction of Miltown.
Gardaí are appealing to motorists to slow down and drive with extreme care in the area or to avoid the area for the time being if possible.
Clare County Fire Service is contiuning to assess the situation at the Hand this afternoon and in the past few moments, Chief Fire Officer Adrian Kelly has been reiterating their warning about the dangers of this type of fire:
