The cause of an extensive fire which damaged large swathes of forest and bogland in the Curramore vicinity of Athlone has yet to be determined.
A statement released by the State owned commercial forestry business, Coillte, confirmed that the fire was now contained and under control.
Members of the local Athlone Fire Service were called to the scene of the fire at approximately 5pm on Sunday evening and remained at the site for a number of hours in an attempt to quell the blaze.
Emergency crews further returned to the site on Monday morning and were assisted by a Coillte owned helicopter which commenced the deposit of water onto the spreading fire.
“We are working to ascertain the cause of the fire and have located some campfires near to the point of ignition but cannot yet say definitely if this was the cause. We would again urge people not to light fires in the outdoors and to report any fires to the emergency services,” the Coillte statement concluded.
