Skip to content

Wildfires in Mourne mountains are 'soul destroying' minister says

Catherine Doyle and Ross McKeeBBC News NI
Jordan Dick A large wildfire on a mountain at night. Smoke is bellowing into the sky. The rest of the mountain is in darkness. The sky is dark navy with some clouds. Jordan Dick
A yellow warning for wildfires remains in place across Northern Ireland

The impact of wildfires on the Mourne mountains in County Down this weekend has been "soul destroying", Stormont's Agriculture and Environment Minister Andrew Muir has said.

Firefighters are continuing to tackle a wildfire at Sandbank Road in Hilltown.

The fires that had broken out at the Slievenaman Road and the Ballagh Road in Newcastle on Saturday have been scaled back.

It comes as a yellow warning for wildfires remains in place across Northern Ireland.

Shaun McAuley Smoke is rising from a mountain. Several fire engines are parked. Some trees and yellow bushes are growing. A few buildings are in the distance. Shaun McAuley
More than 50 firefighters dealt with a blaze on the Slievenaman Road in Newcastle

People are being asked to avoid the area.

Muir said the impact of the wildfires "is real and significant, with lives potentially at risk, communities in fear and natural habitats destroyed".

He added that he was immensely grateful to the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service (NIFRS) for the "sustained response in challenging conditions and would urge everyone to heed calls to stay away whilst firefighting continues".

"Should you see a fire in the countryside, call 999 immediately and alert the Fire and Rescue Service," he said.

He added that "rural arson is a crime" and that if anyone has any "information on those deliberately lighting malicious fires in our countryside" they should contact the police.

NIFRS Group Commander Peter Blaney said that in the Bloody Bridge area, near Newcastle, on Sunday morning, fire crews were dealing with "two or three seats of fire" over a three-mile radius.

"We did have some houses that were in the vicinity, and obviously that took the priority," he said.

"The fire has developed round the back end of the mountain, but there is no property or life risk there."

He said late on Sunday afternoon that NIFRS was "likely to remain here for a few more hours".

Peter Blaney, a man with grey hair and wearing a brown NIFRS uniform. There is a red and yellow fire engine in the background.
NIFRS group commander Peter Blaney said that it was important the public stayed away as crews tackled the wildfires

Blaney added that it was important the public stayed away as crews tackled the wildfires.

"We do know the Mournes are popular and people like to get in them, but whenever we are accessing them, getting on to put the fires out, we don't want the public becoming involved in the fire situation itself."

Earlier, Blaney said the fire at Slievenaman Road affected about 10 hectares.

He added that a lot of vegetation had been burnt, but that fire crews have the blaze under control.

"This is in the heart of the Mournes, so it has been affected by wildfires before," he said.

A map of the County Down area. The Slievenaman Road is displayed in pin in red. Other areas in the map include Bloody Bridge, Newcastle, and Spelga Dam. The sea is to the right. A mountainous area is in the centre.

The NIFRS urged hillwalkers and locals to avoid the area "due to fire risk, heavy smoke and to help support firefighting operations".