Appeal after latest blaze in Mournes

Appeal after latest blaze in Mournes

30 May 2012 - by Joanne Fleming

WALKERS and residents in the Mournes are being urged to be vigilant following a malicious fire in the area, which burnt on three days over the past week.

After the weekend arson attack, which saw 10 acres of shrubland set alight, users are being asked to report any suspicious behaviour and ensure they take away any flammable litter.

More than 40 firefighters battled the blaze at Moneyscalp Wood near Bryansford on Friday evening, which was the fourth such incident in six weeks.

They managed to prevent the fire spreading to mature forest on Friday evening and £500,000 worth of timber stacked nearby, but soaring temperatures and high winds contributed to the blaze flaring up again on Saturday afternoon.

At around 3pm on Monday three fire appliances also spent the afternoon attending a deep seated fire in the undergrowth of the same area.

The Fire Service’s area commander, Mr. John Allen, said the organisation is “absolutely certain” last weekend’s blaze was started on purpose. He said the wood has a history of deliberate fire setting over a number of years and that on this occasion their key priority was to stop the fire spreading to the stacked timber.

“This is costing in terms of money,” said Mr. Allen. “It is costing in terms of damage to the environment. I would ask those who are engaged in deliberate fire-setting to stop. You are endangering the lives of our firefighters— you are endangering this environment.”

Councillor Dessie Patterson, who lives nearby, said it was fortunate the fire occurred on harvested land.

“It still meant, however, that wildlife, including lots of birds nesting were targeted,” he said.

“This ground is timber dry and I appeal for anyone walking through the Mournes to be very careful,” he said. “Don’t leave behind anything, anything at all. Broken glass for instance is among litter that can help a fire burn for miles.”

Newcastle councillor Carmel O’Boyle also condemned the “mindless behaviour” of the arsonists, which put firefighters lives at risk.

“The conditions in which they had to work last Friday and Saturday must have been so hot,” she said. “I commend their courage.”

Councillor O’Boyle, who is the chairwoman of the district’s Police and Community Safety Partnership, also warned that those who use fine weather to “deliberately and irresponsibly” set fire to trees must be apprehended and made to understand the danger in which they are placing other people.

Councillor Willie Clarke also praised the efforts of the Emergency Services and said the PSNI needed to be proactively investigating the arson attack.

“I am very concerned that these actions will result in a loss of life, of individuals at the fire scene or to someone waiting for a response from the fire authority at a crash scene or a house fire,” he said.