An exercise to assess Ireland's ability to deal with large forest fires has taken place in the Wicklow Mountains.
It comes as the 2025 fire season is expected to be longer and more extensive than before.
The exercise - led by European experts - was the first of its kind in Ireland.
Members of the public in Wicklow were asked not to be alarmed by the presence of numerous emergency response personnel and vehicles and the use of a helicopter during the drill.
Less rainfall in spring and summer and other climate change-related issues are believed to have contributed to the number and scale of forest fires.
The operation involved more than 100 participants from various agencies in Ireland and other European Union member states.
They simulated a wildfire scenario near Turlough Hill so that first responders could test their preparedness for a real-life event.
Drone technology from Maynooth University was piloted and the possibility of deploying aircraft from other EU states was also examined.
The EU MODEX exercise is a wild land and forest fire advisory mission organised by the National Directorate of Fire and Emergency Management (NDFEM).
An Garda Síochána, the Defence Forces, Coillte, the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS), the Coastguard, Mountain Rescue and the Civil Defence took part in the exercise as well as Dublin and Wicklow fire services.
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Chief Fire Officer at Wicklow County Council Aidan Dempsey said that forest fires are putting its resources under pressure.
"In Ireland, 100% of fires are started by people, 50% accidentally, 50% on purpose, some maliciously, some due to the old belief that burning off vegetation is better for growth for animals.
"In the future, we worry about being up here fighting fires in rural areas and leaving towns with less fire protection than they should have."
NDFEM Senior Assistant National Fire Advisor Paul Rock said the exercise was an opportunity to learn from those with more experience in tackling major blazes.
"These fires are more prevalent on the continent. They're more ferocious. They have killed a lot of people.
"In 2017, they killed 66 people in Portugal. So the experiences that they already have, we need to learn from their experiences."
He added: "This advisory exercise will concentrate on Ireland’s preparedness for the more frequent and more devastating wild land forest fires, with forestry management experts, aerial firefighting experts and host nation experts reviewing Ireland’s planning and preparedness for these events."
"Preparation and planning are key so that we are always primed to address such an event, said NPWS Director General Niall Ó Donnchú.
"A well-trained response to such events will save lives and nature and minimise damage."
