‘I’ve never dealt with something like this’: Cork firefighters tackle ‘absolute monster’ gorse blaze 

Cork firefighters have described the gorse blaze near Camden Fort Meagher on Monday as an “absolute monster” that threatened several homes.

Gardaí are investigating the possibility of arson. Approximately 2,500sq m of land was scorched by the fire, which was on a patch of ground below the Crosshaven tourist attraction and close to homes outside the village.

Smoke from the fire partially obscuring Camden Fort Meagher. Picture: Eddie O’Hare

The fire, which raged across cliffside vegetation, is now being investigated by gardaí. It is believed that the fire may have been accidentally started by a group of teenagers.

Gardaí launch investigation

A spokesperson for An Garda Síochána confirmed that an investigation has since been launched, adding that “enquiries are ongoing”.

Paul Brierly, the station officer with Crosshaven Fire Service, told The Echo that the blaze posed a threat to at least 30 properties in the area, prompting a multi-agency response from fire crews across the city and county.

“The threat to property was off the walls,” said Mr Brierly.

“We were dealing with an absolute monster when we got there — the easterly wind, which was unusual and strong, was fanning the flames.

“There was so much at stake — houses were only 50m from the fire, and you couldn’t see your hands in front of your face.

“It came within two feet of the first nearby house, so that became a huge priority early on. There were plastic drain pipes… that all melted.”

Fire fighters battling the gorse fire near Camden Fort Meagher. Picture: Eddie O’Hare

Mr Brierly said that units from the Crosshaven, Kinsale, and Carrigaline fire services, alongside crews from the Cork City Fire Brigade, battled the blaze on the ground, while members of the Irish Coast Guard and a crew from the Doyle Shipping Group worked to extinguish the flames from a vantage point at sea.

Beyond normal

“It was very hairy at the start. I realised within two minutes of arriving that we were dealing with something that was beyond normal capabilities — we had to move quickly,” said Mr Brierly.

“There was a plume of smoke about five miles long, we were overwhelmed by it.

“In my 25 years of experience… I have never dealt with something like this.

“There are houses on Camden Rd and more on the lower level on Point Rd, split by this no-mans-land, this scrub of dried-out vegetation, and given the exceptional weather conditions, it was like a tinder box.

“We were pumping 320 litres of water per minute across eight lines,” he said.

Inter-agency teamwork

He said it was about 9.30pm or 10pm before he felt any bit of relief. “We were under a lot of pressure, but we had great inter-agency teamwork, between not only the fire services but the coastguard, gardaí, and residents too.

“I was concerned at first, my heart was thumping for the first two hours, but it came together in the end, with no loss of life and no damage to property.”

Mr Brierly said while the blaze had been extinguished, crew members remained at the site until 1am undertaking dampening measures, with six firefighters returning to the scene at 8am yesterday. 

“We could stay here for a week dealing with it, or it could go out by itself in the next 24-36 hours, but there are no flames at this point,” he said.