SIGNIFICANT habitats on a south Armagh mountain have been extensively damaged in a fire.
Black smoke and flames were seen billowing from Slieve Brack mountain over Forkhill village on Sunday night with residents urged to stay indoors.
Fire crews were sent to the area but were forced to leave the blaze to burn out as the area was inaccessible to reach.
A small fire was still burning on the mountain on Monday afternoon.
The Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service (NIFRS) said "no cause has been determined" yet on how it started.
"An officer has been out to the scene of the gorse fire in the Forkhill area and the update is that a small fire is still burning," said a NIFRS spokeswoman.
"Due to its inaccessible location, and the fact there is no risk to life or property, NIFRS will not be committing firefighters to the incident but will continue to monitor the situation.
"The fire is significantly smaller than the fire last night and the wind direction is now blowing the smoke in a north, north/westerly direction up over the top of the mountain.
"There is no smoke impact to any properties at present."
However, the blaze has destroyed important habitats on the mountain, which is an area of outstanding natural beauty (AONB).
The Ring of Gullion AONB project said on Monday night that extensive damage had been caused.
"This fire has destroyed important habitats, left wildlife with no homes or a food source and the damage caused, risks the economical income coming into the area," a spokeswoman said.
"Slieve Gullion Mountain has attracted tourism from across the world.
"Visitors want to walk the mountain for its beauty and the unspoilt environment – this is now under risk due to this fire."
