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Approximately 100 firefighters are currently engaged in tackling wildfires affecting the Mourne Mountains, with efforts anticipated to continue throughout the week, according to the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service (NIFRS). The blazes have been reported at locations including Ballagh Road in Newcastle and Sandbank Road in Hilltown, where teams of firefighters remain active. In total, about 95 personnel have been deployed to these areas, reflecting the scale of the response required to manage the situation effectively.
The fire service has reiterated a strong appeal for the public to steer clear of the affected zones to ensure both their safety and allow emergency crews to operate without hindrance. Beyond the Mourne Mountains, firefighters have also responded to several smaller wildfires in other parts of Northern Ireland, including Belfast, Armagh, Lurgan, and Rathfriland. With a weather warning for wildfires still in place, NIFRS emphasizes vigilance among the public and urges immediate reporting of any signs of fire by calling 999.
Andrew Muir, Northern Ireland’s Agriculture and Environment Minister, highlighted the serious consequences of these fires, underscoring their impact on communities, potential threats to lives, and destruction to natural habitats. He described rural arson as a criminal act and called for anyone with information about deliberate fire-setting in the countryside to come forward to the police. This concern was echoed by a Mourne Mountain Rescue coordinator who pointed out that a significant challenge lies in the lack of repercussions for those responsible for repeatedly starting such wildfires, often in areas difficult to access by the general public.
The unpredictable nature of these fires was also noted, with the coordinator explaining that wildfires can smolder underground for extended periods, making their behavior difficult to anticipate. Over the weekend, the fires spread rapidly, fueled by large amounts of gorse and heather that had accumulated due to a lack of significant recent fires in those areas. At one point, the risk extended to nearby properties, leading to the evacuation of a caravan park and warnings for people to avoid the region. PSNI officers confirmed that deliberately igniting wildfires is a criminal offense subject to investigation and prosecution, though attributing exact causes for this weekend’s fires remains complex given the scale and emergency response involved. Police remain committed to pursuing any evidence that may identify perpetrators.
The damage caused by the wildfires has raised serious concerns among environmental organizations like Forever Mournes, which stressed the destruction of large mountain areas and the disruption to delicate ecosystems. They warned of immediate and lasting effects on wildlife, including significant declines in insect populations vital to the ecosystem, and highlighted the broader impact on water supplies for Northern Ireland as well as on local farming and tourism industries. In response to the growing wildfire threat, the Department of Agriculture, Environment, and Rural Affairs (Daera) recently published a new strategic action plan outlining coordinated efforts and numerous measures to enhance resilience and reduce the occurrence and severity of future fires
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