Fire crews from across Co Down have been called to tackle a gorse fire close to the Mourne mountains.
The blaze broke out at Moneyscalp Wood beside Tollymore Forest Park near Newcastle on Thursday afternoon.
A spokesperson for the NI Fire and Rescue Service (NIFRS) said members of the public were urged to avoid the area, close to Bryansford Road, while efforts to extinguish the blaze continued.
They said firefighters from Newcastle were joined by crews from Rathfriland, Banbridge, Kilkeel, Downpatrick, along with a command unit from Lisburn.
"The cause of the fire is currently unknown," the spokesperson said.
The latest blaze in the Mournes area follows a large gorse fire close to Spelga Dam last month, which remains the subject of an NIFRS investigation.
On Thursday the NIFRS also revealed they had tackled a total of 1,239 preventable fires last year.
A consultation on tackling wildfires in rural areas including the Mournes was recently launched by the Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA), with responses from the public sought on "five strategic goals for how the wildfire problem should be addressed".
The consultation, which is open until June, described wildfires as a "threat to people, property, wildlife and the countryside", adding "efforts to fight them are a drain on the public purse."
Mournes Sinn Féin councillor Willie Clarke told The Irish News: "This is a very serious ongoing issue for the Mournes area. These fires, many of which are unfortunately started deliberately, destroy habitats for animals and the areas can take many years to recover.
"We have also seen in recent years how the fires can encroach on areas where caravans and even houses are situated, so it's vital that we bring agencies together to develop a holistic approach to the problem, and examine solutions including controlled burning that's properly managed."
Earlier on Thursday, NIFRS lead wildfire officer Ryan Thompson said the service "responded to 1,239 preventable wildfires across Northern Ireland last year, taking our firefighters away from local towns and communities, where they would be ready to respond when they are needed most".
He said the figure amounted to a 37 percent drop from the previous year, but urged people to remain vigilant.
“Wildfires are caused by human behaviour and so we are calling on the community to be alert to the risk of wildfires when enjoying the countryside. Don’t use open fires in the countryside and don’t be careless with smoking materials, barbeques or any other flames," he said.
“However, often these fires are being started deliberately. Purposely setting a wildfire is a criminal offence, they can be devastating to the environment and wildlife, and they ultimately put people’s lives at risk. If you see someone deliberately setting a fire please report it immediately."
