Wildfires in Northern Ireland – What’s Going on and What to Do About them

Northern Ireland has seen a swathe of wildfires in the last month. Dry, sunny weather which resulted in an Amber Wildfire alert, was an unfortunate accompaniment to over 200 wildfires which have taken place, placing considerable strain on emergency services.

A fire started on a mountain outside Ballygawley also nearly destroyed several homes and required a huge – and dangerous – effort by the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Services to contain and, ultimately, extinguish it. Fire have also taken place on Cave Hill and Divis Mountain outside Belfast in recent days.

What is causing all of these fires?

Unfortunately, the vast majority of the 200 fires which have flared up in recent weeks have been started deliberately. Many of these are done to burn gorse or heather by those working the land.

This is legal during certain times of the year, provided the Fire Service are informed in advance. There are concerns however that some land owners are doing it without informing anyone, and the dry and windy conditions are resulting in the fires quickly getting out of control.

What should I do?

In the first instance, the public are being asked to avoid visiting the Upper Mournes between Tuesday 8th and Sunday 13th April.

In addition, the Fire and Rescue Service have issued the following guidance which matches with The Right Side of Outside:

Our Firefighters are continuing to bring wildfires under control. To help protect our beautiful countryside, we’re asking the public to follow our safety advice:

Extinguish cigarettes, BBQs and other flammable materials properly

Avoid using open fires

Don’t leave bottles or glass behind

If you see a fire call 999 immediately

Leave the area as soon as possible

Never place yourself in jeopardy by trying to take pictures of or record wildfires, as they can move at incredible speeds.

Please continue to follow OutmoreNI for further updates, and ensure you stay on the Right Side of Outside, be safe, and keep enjoying the outdoors.