The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine has extended a 'Condition Orange' warning for high fire risk until Friday (July 24).

This latest alert came into effect at midday yesterday (Monday, July 21), and will remain in effect until the same time on Friday.

Due to the continued dry weather patterns, a high fire risk is deemed to exist in all areas where flammable vegetation - such as dead grasses, heather and gorse - exist.

While reduced overall temperatures are forecast, soil moisture deficits continue to increase.

There is an increased risk of underground peat fires on bogs where fires occur, and an increased availability of larger fuel types across all land types, with increased difficulty of fire suppression.

Windspeeds may exceed 20kph in western areas at times which may adversely affect fire behaviour and difficulty of suppression.

Continued vigilance of fire is warranted in areas with open public access and high fire risk activities. Vigilance on all peatland types is especially warranted.

Landowners and managers should remain vigilant of all fire activity and report all suspicious activity to An Garda Síochána.

Visitors to public recreational areas should cooperate with all fire safety requirements, and should not light open fires or barbeques in high risk areas.

People in or visiting rural areas should cooperate with all requests regarding fire safety, obey all relevant bye-laws, and be considerate in parking vehicles so as not to impede access by emergency vehicles.

All forest owners and managers are advised to prepare for likely outbreaks of fire.

Fire lines, fire plans, and fire suppression equipment should be reviewed and made ready and other relevant contingencies, such as insurance and helicopter contracts, should be checked and confirmed.

The department recommends that forest owners and managers consider mitigation measures that they can put in place to help prevent loss or damage to forest resources through fire.

Owners and managers should carry out a risk assessment on their properties, considering the presence of hazardous fuel vegetation on neighbouring lands, and whether there is a history of land burning in the vicinity.

Forest owners should consider creating and maintaining a firebreak to slow or prevent the spread of fire.

Fire plans should be developed for all forests, and should include a map showing access routes and assembly points for firefighting personnel and equipment, and potential sources of water.

The plan should also include contact details for the emergency services, local private and Coillte foresters, neighbouring landowners, and nearby forest owners, in order to summon help if the need arises.

Owners and managers are also advised to consider actively patrolling for fire in known hotspots.

The department said that cooperation between neighbouring landowners is critical to successful fire prevention. Forest owners should discuss their concerns about fire with neighbouring landowners.

The department is reminding forest owners and managers that it is an offence to cut, grub or burn vegetation between March 1 and August 31.

If you see a fire, do not delay, and report it immediately by dialling 999 or 112.