Firefighters are struggling to bring a number of large gorse and forest fires on the Cooley Penninsula under control this afternoon.
Fires initially broke out last night but posed no threat to property or the extensive forestry in the region.
However the wind strengthened and changed direction overnight and the fires spread into the fringes of the forestry in the Jenkinstown townland and on the Analoughin mountain north of Dundalk..
The fires are spread out over a large area and five fire tenders and a watertruck from Dundalk, Drogheda and Ardee are at the scene.
The fires have yet to be brought under control and firefighters have been concentrating on keeping the blazes close to the forestry and property contained.
While there are a number of houses in the area there are no reports of damage.
