Forest and gorse fires have burned through thousands of acres of farm and mountain land in south Kerry over the past two nights.
Thousands of euro in damage has been caused to agricultural land and wildlife has been severely affected. A fire at Tahilla near Sneem on Sunday spread for eight miles and damaged 1,000 acres of land, some of it forestry.
It took units from three fire services and forestry workers to bring it under control.
Yesterday a dramatic mountain fire in the Black Valley raged for 12 hours into the early morning.
A separate fire also broke out in the Sneem area on Monday.
Forestry companies have been working alongside fire services to contain the blazes.
At one stage more than 40 men with spades battled the 20ft flames. An estimated €80,000 worth of damage was done to fencing and land in the Tahilla area alone.
Mr Conor Daly of South Western Forestry Services in Kenmare said some damage had been done to private forestry also.
It is not known who started the fires, although gorse burning by farmers clearing land of scrub is suspected.
Each year gorse fires cause untold damage in an area that is rich in deer, badger and bird life.
However, many of the areas being set alight are commonage and moorland used by a number of farmers, and it is difficult to pinpoint those responsible.
This is in spite of appeals by Coillte and warnings by the heritage office of Kerry County Council in recent days that all burning should have ceased by March 1st, under the terms of the Wildlife Act, 2000.
Those responsible are liable for fines of up to €1,900 for burning out of season. In addition culprits are liable for the call-out charges of the fire services.