TOURISTS and residents in rural areas of Northern Ireland are being urged to remain vigilant over wildfires as fire crews battled a gorse fire at the site of one of Ireland's most famous viewpoints.
Firefighters have been battling a series of gorse fires that have broken out across the north during the hot weather including a major fire last week on the Glenshane Pass.
Crews were yesterday dealing with a significant gorse fire in Slieve Gullion mountain stretching across two-to-three acres.
A number of other fires were also visible in the mountainous south Armagh/north Louth area, overlooking Carlingford Lough, at the time.
The Fire Service advised people to avoid the area as six fire appliances and specialist wildfire resources were called in to tackle the blaze.
The Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (Daera) advised visitors to rural areas as well as residents to be "vigilant".
They asked people to check on elderly and vulnerable neighbours and follow the advice and instructions of the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service (NIFRS).
People should avoid creating open fires, such as barbecues, and ensure other potential sources of fire are carefully minded.
"Under the current conditions, any ignition source in hazardous fuels may give rise to wildfire development," the department said.
"Such a fire can spread very quickly, especially in areas with dead grasses, gorse, forestry and heather. Large areas can become engulfed in a very short period of time and may be hazardous to human life, property and wildlife.
They added: "Wildfires are not natural – they are almost always started by humans either deliberately or through carelessness.
"They put lives at risk, destroy our surroundings and the wildlife in them, and are a real cost to society."
