‘Rural arson’

‘Rural arson’

9 April 2025

THE Mournes is facing another widespread environmental disaster after a series of malicious weekend fires destroyed hundreds of acres of land.

High winds fanned flames as the fires raced across gorse land at breakneck speed, with firefighters forced to retreat from the Bloody Bridge area on Sunday night as darkness fell and it simply became too dangerous to continue.

A number of residents were evacuated from their homes and a group of Duke of Edinburgh Award students were taken down off the mountain on Saturday as firefighters were stretched to the limit in the most challenging of conditions.

The blaze at the Bloody Bridge has been described as one of the worst the Fire and Rescue Service has dealt with in 25 years.

Fire and Rescue Service personnel remained in the area and at Trassey Track overnight on Monday and into yesterday.

South Down MP Chris Hazzard is calling for a “full and rigorous investigation” and the immediate implementation of a management plan for the Mournes.

The call was also backed by local politicians at Monday night’s meeting of Newry, Mourne and Down Council.

Billowing smoke across a wide area over the weekend was so intense that it was visible from satellites in space, with the fires in the Mournes declared a major incident by the emergency services.

First Minister Michelle O’Neill said she recognised the “incredible bravery and determination” of firefighters and the emergency services working tirelessly in the Mournes to protect lives and wildlife.

“The Mournes are an area of outstanding natural beauty that are cherished by so many and we must do everything we can to ensure the area flourishes for future generations,” she added.

Stormont Environment Minister Andrew Muir – who visited the Mournes on Monday afternoon – described the wildfires as “rural arson” and issued a chilling warning that if the fires do not stop, homes could be burnt down and lives lost.

He also warned about the “serious environmental impact” the fires are having on the Mournes and its ecology.

Roads across the Mournes were closed, as was the Silent Valley, with the Fire and Rescue Service confirming it dealt with 150 wildfires in the Mournes and other areas since last Thursday night.

Specialist all-terrain vehicles with portable pumps were deployed over the weekend to help manage and contain the fires in the mountains, with fire chiefs describing a signifcant number of the wildfires as “deliberate.”

Mr Muir has described the fires as “abhorrent” and thanked the emergency services, the Environment Agency and others for their ongoing efforts in difficult conditions.

He has urged landowners to refrain from any so-called prescribed burning in the remaining open season window which ends on Monday of next week.

He said the wildfires were an “extremely difficult and unpredictable issue” for firefighters to manage with the scale of the destruction reduced by the preparedness of all agencies involved.

“I am extremely disappointed to learn that fires continue to be deliberately lit in the Mournes,” he declared.

“We need to call it what it is — it’s rural arson and it puts lives at risk. It also has a devastating impact on wildlife, flora and fauna, risks livestock, impacts on residents and businesses and causes untold damage.”

A 25 year-old man who was arrested over the weekend on suspicion of arson, was released pending further enquiries.

Mr Muir has appealed to anyone with information that can bring those responsible for the malicious fires to justice to contact police or Crimestoppers.

He said everyone must play their part in reducing the burden on our emergency services, including landowners.

With the dry spell set to continue, Mr Weir is urging the public to “exercise common sense and take care of our natural environment”.

He added: “There is still an ongoing risk of wildfires in place with the current weather conditions, so the need for everyone to take care and respect our countryside is of utmost importance.

“If anyone is going out into nature in the coming days, you must think of the potential consequences of your actions and don’t even think about lighting a fire or barbecue.”

PSNI Superintendent Norman Haslett said gorse fires had the potential to cause widespread damage to the environment and harm to wildlife, as well as threatening homes, farms and people.

“Anyone who engages in this reckless behaviour should carefully consider the consequences of their actions and will be subject to the full rigour of the law,” he added.