The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) has issued a ‘Condition Orange’ forest fire warning for the coming days.

Due to the current weather patterns, the department said that a high fire risk is deemed to exist in all areas where hazardous fuels such as dead grasses and shrub fuels such as heather and gorse exist.

The warning is currently set to remain in place until 12:00p.m on Tuesday, May 6.

The current easterly high-pressure-dominated weather and warm, dry weather conditions are forecast to gradually give way to westerly high-pressure conditions that are expected remain in place over the weekend.

DAFM said that "elevated fire risks" are expected in all areas during this period.

"Fire behaviour and spread rates will be strongly influenced by increasingly dry fuel conditions, low humidity levels and variable light to moderate windspeeds. Windspeeds may exceed 20km/h in some areas at times," it said.

With the continued fine weather and May Bank Holiday weekend ahead, higher levels of visitor activity are expected in the countryside.

The department said that additional vigilance is warranted in areas with open public access.

Visitors to public recreational areas should cooperate with all fire safety requirements and not light open fires or barbeques in high-risk areas.

Landowners and managers should remain vigilant to all fire activity and report all suspicious activity to An Garda Síochána.

The department added that rural users should cooperate with all requests regarding fire safety, obey all relevant bye-laws and be considerate in parking vehicles so as not to impede access by emergency vehicles.

All forest owners and managers are again advised to prepare for likely outbreaks of fire.

Fire lines, plans and suppression equipment should be reviewed and made ready and other relevant contingencies, such as insurance and helicopter contracts.

The department recommends that forest owners and managers should consider the fire mitigation measures that they can put in place to help prevent loss or damage.

The department said that it is an offence to cut, grub, burn, or otherwise destroy any vegetation growing on any land not then cultivated between March 1 and August 31, in any year.

It added that landowners found burning illegally could face fines, imprisonment, and single farm payment penalties.