Donegal County Council is appealing to all landowners and members of the public to exercise caution to prevent the occurrence of wildfires.

Householders or building owners in areas susceptible to wildfire are advised to remove or cut back any vegetation in the immediate vicinity of their house, building, or oil tank to prevent wildfires damaging or destroying their property.

Cleared areas should be maintained free of vegetation and combustible material.

The council is also urging landowners and members of the public not to engage in activities that could cause wildfires.

Landowners and members of the public are urged to be vigilant and to report any uncontrolled or unattended fires immediately to the fire service by dialing 999 or 112.

Under the Wildlife Acts 1976 and 2000, 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 every year.

"Members of the public are also reminded that the burning of domestic, industrial, agricultural, and construction waste is an offence under the Waste Management Act, 1996," Donegal County Council said.

There have already been a number of wildfires across the country in recent days.

Last night, several units of Kerry Fire Service were called to the scene of gorse fires in parts of the south and east of Co. Kerry.

Fire crews responded to gorse fires yesterday evening (Tuesday, March 18) and last night in Scartaglin and Glanbeg, Caherdaniel.

In a separate incident, the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service (NIFRS) received a call at 6:42p.m on Monday evening, March 17, with reports of a fire on the Mourne Mountains at the Altnadua Road, Castlewellan. Firefighters were called to reports of approximately 200m of gorse on fire.

Firefighters used backpack sprayers and beaters to extinguish the fire. The cause of the fire is believed to have been deliberate ignition and the incident was dealt with by 12:27a.m.

In Northern Ireland, the closed period for burnings is April 15 to August 31.