Smoke from the bog fire at Curragh, Rosemount, this afternoon (Friday).

Helicopter brought in to help tackle South Westmeath bog fire

A helicopter was called in to assist fire engines in fighting a large bog fire in South Westmeath today (Friday).

The fire at Curragh, Rosemount, is believed to have started around lunchtime.

The ground conditions after a week of dry and sunny weather meant its spread required two fire engines and water-dispensing helicopter to be called upon this afternoon.

A view of the bog fire in Curragh, Rosemount, today.

The fire mostly consumed scrub vegetation, and no local properties were directly threatened by it.

A local resident told the Westmeath Independent this evening that the fire had now been brought under control.

The cause of the blaze is not known.

The helicopter that was used to douse water on the fire.