Conservation rangers at Killarney National Park in Co. Kerry have issued a "stern message" to the public following "another devastating fire" in the park.

The blaze took hold on Tuesday night (April 8) in the "precious" Reenadinna Woodland on the Muckross Peninsula.

Kerry Fire and Rescue Service crew and National Park and Wildlife Service (NPWS) staff attended the fire and managed to put it out quickly.

According to a post from Killarney National Park on social media, this fire was started by a disposable barbeque.

"It quickly set part of a cliff alight, damaging a variety of trees, bryophytes, ground flora and it was in an area where there is evidence of our native red squirrel and many bird species.

"Reenadinna Woodland is a yew woodland and is one of the largest of its kind in Europe, this is a very rare habitat on a national and international level," the post said.

Rangers have reminded the public that lighting fires or barbeques is "unacceptable behaviour and will not be tolerated in the national park".

The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) has extended the condition orange danger rating for fire risk – indicating high fire risk – until 12:00p.m next Monday (April 14).

"The crews had to traverse over rough ground in the dark and put out a fire that spread down a cliff face," the post said.

Killarney National Park rangers thanked the members of the public who raised the alarm on seeing a "plume of smoke" in the area.

"Early intervention is of the utmost importance in these situations and the more eyes and ears we have out there, the faster we can respond to a fire, the less damage that is caused to the National Park," they said.