Fire chief warns summer could see more scenes of wildfire devastation ahead of NI’s hottest day so far

It comes as one fire chief warned the potential for increasingly warmer and sunnier weather in the months ahead could see yet more scenes of devastation in the countryside.

Temperatures in Northern Ireland are expected to reach 20C in parts of the country on Thursday and Friday, on the back of the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service responding to dozens of gorse fires across the country recently.

Operations have been scaled back after NIFRS confirmed on Wednesday evening an incident in the White Bridge area of Ballygawley is expected to end and there have been no other wildfires reported.

However, the rise in temperatures both in the short term and as summer approaches has prompted those in NIFRS to sound a warning about the “busy” months ahead.

Speaking to the Belfast Telegraph, NIFRS Area Commander David Harbinson said: “It really does depend on what kind of summer we have here. If we do have a long, dry, warm summer, we would anticipate that we could be busy.

“It's too early to know that, because we don't know where the long-term forecast is going to be in relation to the weather.

“So as much as everybody's hoping for a lovely warm, dry summer – I would like that as well – we have to be mindful of the impact that that could have on the fire service if we do have people going around and deliberately setting fires in the countryside.”

The fire chief explained those responsible for starting fires need to be aware of the “consequences” gorse fires are having on the environment, fire service and local community.

“Think about the impact that it's having on the countryside itself, in relation to destroying the lands and the wildlife that's being affected, and then equally, think about the effect that it's having on the Fire Rescue Service,” he said.

On the impact for his crews on the ground, Mr Harbinson said the recent fires are stretching the NIFRS’s resources.

“We are a community service, in that we're here to serve the community of Northern Ireland.

Watch: Firefighters tackle ongoing Co. Down wildfire

“When we're up tackling these wildfires, that takes our resources away from our towns and our cities, and therefore, then that can have an impact also.

“It's very trying work that's going on at the minute, and that's right across the board, from our front line fire crews to our officers on the ground, to our regional control centre that is doing the call handling, mobilizing our fire appliances, to our support staff who then support the front line operations of the firefighters.

“So it's very much a collective effort right across the board.

“We also get support from our partner agencies, and there's a number of them that are supporting us right across this busy period.

“And we're very thankful for the work that they do with us, and we really appreciate what they're doing, and in some cases, we couldn't do it without them.

“So it's very much been very much a collaborative effort, even though it's been, dominantly, a fire service response. We've all been working together.”

More than 70 firefighters tackled blazes across Northern Ireland on Tuesday, as the service received over 40 reports related to wildfires.

On Tuesday night firefighters continued to tackle a wildfire on Bloody Bridge in the Mourne Mountains which began over the weekend.

Meanwhile, eight appliances and 40 firefighters were deployed at the height of a wildfire in Ballygawley.

The incident ended later into Wednesday evening.

It is believed young people may be responsible for starting many of the gorse fires.

Mr Harbinson said: “In relation to young people, we want them to go out and enjoy themselves, make the most of the good weather.

“But think about the dangers of lighting fires, not only for all the things that we've just discussed there, but equally, the dangers to themselves.

“We would encourage young people to go out, enjoy themselves, be responsible, and that would be the message that we would like to put across.”

Following a blaze on Black Mountain in Belfast on Tuesday evening, local SDLP councillor Paul Doherty, seconded Mr Harbinson’s message.

“The fact that young people are potentially responsible for these fires is concerning, I would encourage those young people and their parents to really consider the extent of the damage they are causing to these beautiful landscapes.

"What they are doing is harming the nature and wildlife in the area while endangering others,” he said.

Mr Doherty also praised the NIFRS for their work tackling the fires.

“I want to commend the fire service for their work, the nature of the role means they put their lives in danger tackling blazes in very difficult circumstances and they continue to work hard to protect us and our landscapes.”