Condemnation after Tollymore gorse fire

Condemnation after Tollymore gorse fire

27 May 2020

THERE has been widespread anger about what is believed to have been another malicious gorse fire in the district.

Two weeks after a raging gorse and forestry fire at the Dolly’s Brae area near Castlewellan and a malicious blaze on land at Coney Island, the Fire and Rescue Service responded to a fire at the popular Drinns viewing area at Tollymore Forest Park.

The alarm was raised last Thursday evening, with a major emergency response operation swinging into action.

Fifty firefighters rushed to the scene, backed by six tenders, a water tanker and command support unit.

The firefighters spent some time at the scene with rain showers helping dampen ground surrounding the fire to prevent it from spreading further.

In the wake of the Castlewellan fire –which destroyed wildlife, a huge swathe of land and took 48 hours to bring under control – the Fire and Rescue Service appealed to people to stop lighting fires in the countryside.

Last month, the Fire and Rescue Service revealed that there had been over 500 incidents of wildfire, gorse-related vegetation-type fires across Northern Ireland, confirming that most wildfires in the country are started deliberately.

News of the most recent fire was heavily criticised on social media by residents in the Newcastle and Castlewellan areas who again praised firefighters for bringing the blaze under control.

There were also reports of young 

people – who had allegedly been drinking – in the Drinns area before the fire broke out.

“There are those clearly taking advantage of the easing of lockdown measures,” said one resident, while another said “people were still travelling too far” and should remain at home.

Mournes councillor Willie Clarke said that while it had not yet been confirmed how the fire at Tollymore Forest Park started, there was concern across the community about a number of recent blazes over recent weeks.

He also said high winds at this time of year can help fires spread quickly, leaving firefighters with the “most challenging of tasks” to bring them under control.

“I would appeal to people who starts malicious fires to please stop as they are damaging not only land and wildlife, but the environment which is being filled with large plumes of smoke.  There is no excuse for such reckless behaviour,” Cllr Clarke continued.

“It would appear that those who deliberately start fires do not for one moment think about the consequences of their actions. Fires have come close to property and also placed a strain on Fire and Rescue Service resources.”

During the recent Castlewellan blaze, the Fire and Rescue Service had to move other firefighters into more high risk fire areas in towns and cities.

Cllr Clarke suggested that the time had also come for better management of gorse land with increased emphasis on providing fire breaks to ensure that if blazes are started maliciously, they will not be able to spread as much as they are currently doing.

He added: “I am aware that the Mourne Heritage Trust was working on such a project, one that I believe which needs to be expanded.

“In the wake of what has happened recently, perhaps the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs also needs to be involved in initiatives that can help prevent gorse fires in particular from spreading so rapidly.”