The Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service (NIFRS) has confirmed that over 50 firefighters are now battling a fire on the Mourne Mountains.
Eight fire appliances are also at the scene of the wildlife in the Bloody Bridge area.
The NIFRS said that firefighters continued to work tirelessly throughout the duration of yesterday evening (Monday, April 7) and into this morning, responding to multiple wildfires and other emergency calls across Northern Ireland.
“Our Regional Control Room received 240 calls yesterday, 27 of the 148 calls mobilised involved wildfires,” the service said in a statement.
NIFRS is expecting that the firefighting operations will continue in the Bloody Bridge area across today.
“We are appealing for the public to please stay away from the area and avoid hill walking in the mountains around the Bloody Bridge area.
“If you live in the Newcastle vicinity, please keep your windows and doors closed,” it said.
Firefighters
Wildfires in the Sawel Mountain area of Newtownstewart, Co. Tyrone and on the Carncullagh Road in the Dervock area have now been dealt with.
An amber weather warning remains in place for wildfires in Northern Ireland.
Members of the public are being urged to follow fire safety advice and stay vigilant to the risk of fire in the countryside.
Anyone who sees a fire is being asked to call 999 immediately.
NIFRS added that crew continued to respond to a number of other emergency incidents overnight including a large shed fire in Hillsborough in the early hours of this morning.
The NIFRS has also issued the following advice to prevent fires in the countryside:
- Avoid using open fires in the countryside – an open fire can easily get out of control;
- Extinguish cigarettes and other smoking materials properly and do not throw cigarette ends on the ground or out of car windows;
- Only use barbeques in a suitable and safe area, and never leave them unattended;
- Ensure barbeques are fully extinguished and cold before disposing of their contents;
- Do not leave bottles or glass in woodland or grassland – take them home or dispose in a waste or recycling bin;
- Be considerate in parking vehicles so you do not impede access for emergency vehicles;
- Keep children away from lighters, matches, and open fires;
- Do not attempt to tackle fires that cannot be extinguished with a bucket of water – leave the area as quickly as possible;
- If you see a fire in the countryside, report it to NIFRS immediately by calling 999;
- If you see someone setting fires, report it to the PSNI.
