Northern Ireland's Minister for the Environment is urging people with information to bring it to the police as the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service (NIFRS) said on Monday evening, April 7 that it was responding to multiple wildfires burning across the region.
After an initial call on Sunday evening, six Fire Appliances and 33 Firefighters were tackling a 1.5km fire front in the Bloody Bridge area of the Mournes as of Monday evening.
In the nearby Slievenaman Road area, six Fire Appliances and 30 Firefighters were firefighting a 1km fire front as of Monday evening,
In Western Area Command, six Fire Appliances and 33 Firefighters were at the scene of a wildfire in the Sawel Mountain area of Newtownstewart, Co Tyrone.
In Northern Area Command, on the Carncullagh Road in the Dervock area, 22 Firefighters are dealing with another ongoing wildfire.
NIFRS said on Monday that firefighting operations are expected to continue across the evening at these incidents, and appealed to people to avoid the areas.
Firefighters are currently responding to multiple wildfires burning across Northern Ireland this evening (7 April). Read more here https://t.co/YnD70aRSs2
— Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service (@NIFRSOFFICIAL) April 7, 2025
Weather warning
Earlier on Monday, NIFRS said it had received nearly 1000 emergency calls from midnight on Thursday, April 3 to midnight on Sunday, April 6.
An amber weather warning remains in place for wildfires, NIFRS said on Monday.
From midnight on Thurs 3 April to midnight on Sun 6 April we received 997 emergency calls & were mobilised to 552 incidents. 146 of these incidents were wildfire related. As the weather warning continues we're urging the public to follow our safety advice: https://t.co/yG97qcC4CC pic.twitter.com/guQ7cTUR9A
— Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service (@NIFRSOFFICIAL) April 7, 2025
Read more
"Rural arson"
Earlier on Monday, Northern Ireland's Minister for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs Andrew Muir thanked the first responders for their "tireless work" in trying to get the wildfires under control.
"It is an extremely difficult and unpredictable issue to manage and I am very grateful to the firefighters who are in attendance," Muir said.
"The scale of the destruction has been greatly reduced by the preparedness of all agencies involved."
He continued: “I am extremely disappointed to learn that fires continue to be deliberately lit in the Mournes. We need to call it what it is - it’s rural arson and it puts lives at risk.
"It also has a devastating impact on wildlife, flora and fauna, risks livestock, impacts on residents and businesses and causes untold damage.
"Anyone with information that can bring those responsible for lighting these malicious fires to justice, should bring it immediately to the PSNI or crime stoppers.
“I am also urging landowners to refrain from any prescribed burning in the remaining open season window in order to give our firefighters the best chance to respond to ongoing incidents.
"We all must play our part in reducing the burden on our emergency services.”
Muir added: “There is still an ongoing risk of wildfires in place with the current weather conditions, so the need for everyone to take care and respect our countryside is of utmost importance.
"If anyone is going out into nature in the coming days, you must think of the potential consequences of your actions and don’t even think about lighting a fire or BBQ.”
☀️Don't start fires in countryside
— DAERA (@daera_ni) April 4, 2025
🔥Wildfires often start deliberately or by reckless burning/disposal of flammable vegetation/waste
🔥Wildfires damage environment- risking lives, property & wildlife @nidirect @NIFRSOFFICIAL @PoliceServiceNI @niexecutive @barrabest @belfastcc pic.twitter.com/ZI6ziYBbcN
"Report it to the police"
Speaking with the PA news agency later on Monday, Muir said: “I’ve got a clear message to the people of Northern Ireland, if you know who is deliberately setting these malicious fires you must report it to the police. If that is difficult for you, anonymously to Crimestoppers.
“To those that are thinking of going up the mountains to light fires – don’t.
“You are causing a catastrophic impact to our environment but also you are putting lives and people’s homes and farms at risk.
“It needs to stop.”
He added: “People are coming into these mountains and they think it’s fun, it is not.
“You could end up being charged with manslaughter.
“This is the risk being put to lives in terms of this area.
“But also the environment – air quality, water quality, our nature and biodiversity, it is being destroyed.”
Mournes arrest
Meanwhile, on Sunday, the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) announced that a man in his 20s had been arrested in connection with a large gorse fire in the Mournes.
Norma Haslett, the PSNI District Commander for Newry, Mourne and Down Superintendent, said on Sunday: “Officers received a request for traffic and travel assistance from colleagues in the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service on Saturday evening, 5th April.
“The gorse fire, which is being treated as deliberate ignition, was ablaze in the Sandbank Road area of Hilltown.
“Road closures were in place overnight, with local diversions in place. These closures have now been lifted. Police also assisted with the evacuation of nearby residents.
“Officers’ conducting follow up enquiries have since arrested a 25-year-old man on suspicion of arson being reckless as to whether life would be endangered, and non-related driving offences.
“He remains in custody at this time as enquiries continue into the circumstances surrounding the fire.
“Gorse fires have the potential to cause widespread damage to the environment and harm to wildlife as well as threatening homes, farms and the people living in those areas.
Comments