The fire which created a large plume of black smoke over Laois last night is still ongoing.
And now an Air Corps helicopter has been requested to help control it.
It is expected to arrive around 11am and will join the one employed by Coillte.
Smoke from a fire in the Slieve Bloom Mountains yesterday and last night is affecting visibility on the M7 Dublin to Limerick motorway through Laois.
Gardai have advised avoiding the Slieve Bloom area entirely, and say smoke is affecting visibility on the M7 between Junction 18 Portlaoise West and Junction 19 M9 and also on the Portlaoise to Mountrath Road (R445) according to AA Roadwatch.
Fire crews from Mountmellick and Mountrath are currently on the ground around the Glendine O’Regan area, along with Coillte workers.
The fire in the Slieve Bloom was visible for miles in all directions last night with readers getting in touch with us from Stradbally, Ballyroan and Tyrellspass in Westmeath to say they can see it from where they are.
The fire was reported on Wednesday afternoon between Kinnity and Cadamstown with Offaly Fire Services responding to the incident.
Last week the Departure of Agriculture issued a fire warning due to the high temperatures.
A fire warning has been issued by the Government as temperatures soar to 30C and above.
The Department warned people about about the dangers of blazes which could arise in vegetated areas as a result of the heat.
In a statement, the department said: “Under extreme Fire Risk Conditions any ignition may give rise to rapid and unpredictable wildfire development and spread, particularly in dead grasses, and low moisture shrub fuels like gorse and heather.
“Upland fires can be expected to cover extensive areas and pose extreme difficulties to suppression efforts and may potentially give rise to Major Emergency scenarios.”
The type of warning is extremely rare in Ireland, which seldom sees temperatures upwards of 25C.
