Northern Ireland

'Tremendous toll' taken on firefighters following latest Mournes blaze, as pleas made to public over dangers

A firefighter with a knapsack spay device tackles flames at Bloody Bridge in the Mourne Mountains yesterday. Picture: NIFRS
A firefighter with a knapsack spay device tackles flames at Bloody Bridge in the Mourne Mountains yesterday. Picture: NIFRS A firefighter with a knapsack spay device tackles flames at Bloody Bridge in the Mourne Mountains yesterday. Picture: NIFRS

THE ongoing dry spring weather means the public must be aware of the dangers of wildfires, the environment minister has warned following yet another blaze in the Mourne Mountains.

Firefighters believe the latest gorse fire at Bloody Bridge yesterday was "deliberate ignition".

A group commander spoke of how his colleagues have been left "exhausted" battling the flames, often by hand with beaters and knapsack spray devices.

The Bloody Bridge fire, which was extinguished by 1.30pm yesterday, followed huge fires over the last number of days in the Spelga, Cock Mountain and Hen Mountain areas of the Mournes. Those fires were fully extinguished by Wednesday evening.

Six fire appliances and a specialist wildfire team were called to yesterday's blaze, and group commander Andy Burns said the continued incidents were "taking a tremendous toll in terms of our resources".

He told the BBC: "Not only are we taking resources out of our towns and villages, the crews are starting to become exhausted. It's very difficult to walk up a steep mountainside...and when we get there the only way to fight this fire is to physically to beat it."

Fellow group commander Mark Smyth warned that current weather conditions mean the likelihood of gorse fires is higher than usual.

"With the dry weather set to continue over the next few days we are asking the public to support their firefighters by not starting fires in the countryside," he said.

"Dealing with wildfires unnecessarily draws our resources away from where they are needed most - protecting our community. They also cause significant damage to wildlife and the environment."

Environment minister Edwin Poots has backed the plea, urging people to take precautions when in the countryside. He spoke of the devastation caused to the Mournes in April 2021 when a massive blaze - the biggest of its kind in years - destroyed acres of gorse at Slieve Donard.

"We all saw the damage that was done in the Mournes last year and must take action to avoid any repeat of this," Mr Poots said.

"Everyone needs to act responsibly and remain vigilant to wildfire. With the current conditions set to last into next week, any ignition source in hazardous fuels may give rise to wildfire development. Such a fire can spread very quickly, especially in areas with dead grasses, gorse, forestry and heather."