THE Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service (NIFRS) has been thanked for its ‘swift response’ to the outbreak of a 1.5-hectare gorse fire at Murlough National Nature Reserve on Friday.
Posting on Monday, the National Trust voiced its gratitude that the blaze had been ‘brought under control before it could spread further into the reserve’s most sensitive habitats’.
NIFRS confirmed that the fire had been attended by four appliances – one from each of their stations in Newcastle, Downpatrick, Kilkeel and Rathfriland – as well as a water tanker from Warrenpoint and service support vehicles from Newcastle and Armagh.
Releasing pictures of the damage caused by the blaze, the National Trust wrote: ‘This happened at Murlough National Nature Reserve. ‘Not during a heatwave abroad; not somewhere else; right here, after a campfire in the dunes.
‘Thanks to the swift response from NIFRS, the fire was brought under control before it could spread further into the reserve’s most sensitive habitats.
‘It’s easy to think a small fire will stay small. ‘In conditions like these, it doesn’t.
‘Dry vegetation can ignite in seconds, putting wildlife, rare habitats and the people tackling the fire at risk. ‘An official wildfire warning remains in place.
‘To help protect Murlough National Nature Reserve, campfires and barbecues are not permitted within the nature reserve. ‘If you’d like to have a barbecue, please use the designated picnic area at the main car park.’
When contacted for comment, NIFRS stated that it received a call about the fire at 2.03pm on Friday.
‘Firefighters were called to reports of 1.5 hectares of gorse on fire at Links Road, Newcastle, Down,’ it added.
‘Firefighters used one jet and three hose reel jets to extinguish the fire. ‘The cause of the fire is believed to be accidental ignition, and firefighters left the scene at 7.10pm.’
NIFRS seasonal safety advice highlights that ‘dry ground and vegetation in the summer means there is more risk of a fire starting’.
It states that barbecues should only be used in a suitable area and never left unattended and that the lighting of open fires in the countryside should be avoided as ‘these can easily get out of control’. Smokers are urged to ‘dispose of cigarette butts safely and ensure they are completely extinguished’. Glass should not be discarded ‘as sunlight shining through can start a fire’.
