Thursday 29 October 2026Compiled from published reports. Every claim links to its source.

Ireland Crime

Every case followed from the first report to the sentence, or to where the reporting stopped.

Case No. 8283Co. Laois · 30 Jul 2026

Fireworks reported after Mountmellick wildfire as gardaí investigate

A wildfire broke out on the evening of Thursday, 30 July 2026 in Smiths Field and Kirwan Park, Mountmellick, County Laois, spreading across a dry meadow, setting a hedgerow alight and threatening a housing estate. No victim or suspect has been named in the reports. Local reports said fireworks were set alight before the fire, but gardaí said they received no formal complaints, and two public calls about fireworks were made on 31 July. No arrest or charge has been reported. On 10 August 2026 gardaí appealed for information, and the investigation is continuing.

  1. Reported10 Aug
  2. Arrested
  3. Charged
  4. In court
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • The wildfire spread across a dry meadow and set alight a hedgerow next to a garden in Kirwan Park.
  • A filled skip in a driveway also caught fire.
Where
The fire was in Laois County Council's section of Smiths Field, between the Kirwan Park and College Avenue housing estates in Mountmellick.
When
The fire took place on Thursday evening, 30 July 2026.
Cause
  • Local reports said fireworks were set alight before the fire, but gardaí said they received no formal complaints about them.
  • A garda spokesperson confirmed that two official public calls reported fireworks being set off in the area on 31 July.
Other details
  • The fire threatened a housing estate with hundreds of homes.
  • Some residents were evacuated from their homes and told to close their windows because of smoke.
  • Fire crews from Mountmellick and a second crew from Laois County Fire & Rescue Service extinguished the fire.
Investigation
  • Gardaí have appealed for more information about the wildfire, and the investigation is continuing.
  • Anyone with information is asked to phone Portlaoise or Mountmellick Garda Station.
Charges
No arrest or charge has been reported.
11 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatThe fire spread across the dry meadow and set alight a hedgerow next to a garden in Kirwan Park. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • whatA filled skip in a driveway also caught fire. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • whereThe fire was in Laois County Council's section of Smiths Field, between Kirwan Park and College Avenue housing estates. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • whenThe fire took place on Thursday evening, 30 July. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • causeThere were local reports that fireworks were set alight before the fire, but gardaí say they received no formal complaints. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • causeA garda spokesperson confirmed that two official public calls reported fireworks being set off in the area on 31 July. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • investigationGardaí have appealed for more information about the wildfire, which threatened a housing estate with hundreds of homes. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • investigationAn investigation into the fire is continuing. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • investigationAnyone with information is asked to phone Portlaoise or Mountmellick Garda Station. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • otherSome residents were evacuated from their homes and told to close their windows because of smoke. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • otherFire crews from Mountmellick and a second crew from Laois County Fire & Rescue Service extinguished the fire. (leinsterexpress.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 10 Aug2026
    Reportedleinsterexpress.ie, first report
    Fireworks reported following Laois wildfire as Gardaí investigate

    First report of the Mountmellick wildfire. Adds local reports of fireworks before the fire, two public calls about fireworks on 31 July, residents evacuated because of smoke, and a garda appeal for information. No suspect, arrest or charge is reported.