BBQ and fires ban in Mournes

BBQ and fires ban in Mournes

21 May 2025

AS the unprecedented dry spell continues, the use of barbecues and open fires in the Mournes has been banned by NI Water which owns a huge swathe of land in the area.

The temporary ban also applies to the Silent Valley Mountain Park with immediate effect with NI Water confirming its decision comes after the Natural Hazards Partnership announced an amber wildfire risk.

Last month, the Fire and Rescue Service spent two weeks battling hundreds of wildfires across Northern Ireland during a spell of good weather, with the Silent Valley Mountain Park badly affected.

Ironically, the most recent blaze came as the green shoots of recovery were appearing in the Mournes following the devastating wildfires of 2021 destroyed, flora and fauna scorched and species diversity reduced. 

NI Water’s Patricia McKee, said wildfires not only pose a risk to human life, wildlife and the environment but also drinking water catchment areas. 

“Activities such as littering, using disposable barbecues and burning waste increases the risk of wildfires, so special care must be taken,” she said.

“The ban on lighting barbecues and fires at our sites is a temporary, precautionary measure which has been put in place to ensure the safety of the community, wildlife and surrounding environment.”

Patricia said NI Water does not want to spoil anyone’s fun, highlighting the importance of everyone working together to protect “this precious area of outstanding natural beauty” and stop a repeat of last month’s devastating wildfires. 

She added: “The situation will be reviewed at the end of May and updates will be provided accordingly.

“In the meantime, we’re reminding visitors they should not light barbecues or fires in or around our sites and we would like to thank everyone for their understanding, patience and co-operation at this time.”

The spate of recent gorse fires in the Mournes prompted NI Water to warn that wild fires have major consequences for so-called water catchments which supply drinking water to tens of thousands of homes.

The organisation says while it wants the public to enjoy the mountains and their various catchment areas responsibly, it has highlighted the extreme risk of “catastrophic damage” wildfires bring to the environment, habitats, wildlife and drinking water.

NI Water said the recent fires in the Mournes are a stark reminder of the extreme risk of catastrophic damage wildfires can cause, with the quick actions of the Fire and Rescue Service helping contain the spread of the fire.

Wildfires remove the primary layer of vegetation, leaving the burned bare soil exposed to erosion which then makes its way into the reservoirs which is treated to become drinking water, which requires a lot of resource and expertise to remove at the water treatment stage.

NI Water said it’s important visitors remember that these areas provide drinking water, so the public must take special care to look after them and 

protect them from any risk of wildfires and that everyone has a part to play in protecting the environment and enjoy their time in the countryside responsibly.

Those who enjoy the outdoors are reminded to do so responsibly to reduce the risk of wildfires by not lighting fires in and around forests or open land and do not attempt to intervene or fight fires under any circumstances.

Anyone who spots a fire is asked to report the blaze and its location and those who spot people deliberately setting fires are asked to contact police immediately.

Meanwhile, NI Water has prepared an advisory note which Silent Valley guards will issue to visitors as they arrive at the location Silent Valley, with the information available across its social media channels and website www.niwater.com/silent-valley.