Protection plan call

Protection plan call

9 April 2025

NEWRY, Mourne and Down Council is urging a leading government department to implement a promised fire prevention and management plan in the Mournes.

The call was issued at the local authority’s monthly meeting on Monday night when there was unanimous support for an urgent notice of motion tabled by Mournes councillor Willie Clarke, calling on the Department for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) to implement the comprehensive plan.

The meeting took place as firefighters continued to monitor fires at the Bloody Bridge and Trassey Track areas and after the minister at the helm of the government department confirmed the fire prevention and management plan is not in place.

Mr Andrew Muir said a strategic wildfire group was established following the devastating 2021 fire in the Mournes which identified a need for a wildfire management plan.

He said DAERA went to tender at the beginning of this year but, unfortunately, did not get any successful responses, suggesting this perhaps “demonstrates this is an issue beyond Northern Ireland.”

Cllr Clarke described the fires as “nothing short of a heinous act against nature and the community”. 

“The intentional destruction of such a precious natural resource is utterly reprehensible and cannot be tolerated,” he declared.

“It is imperative those responsible are held accountable for their actions and that we strengthen our efforts to prevent such senseless acts of environmental vandalism in the future.”

Cllr Clarke said in April 2021, many watched in horror as fire ripped through the Mournes.

“We were promised prompt action and a comprehensive fire prevention and management plan to ensure such devastation could never happen again, but here we are, facing the same nightmare again,” he said.

“The Mournes are on fire once more, causing massive damage and posing significant risks to life and property and terrified people have been evacuated from their homes in the middle of the night.”

Cllr Clarke said four years on, there is still the absence of a robust fire prevention management strategy that was pledged.

“Communities around the Mournes and organisations like Mourne Heritage Trust and National Trust, through the Forever Mournes Partnership, carry out peat restoration,” he explained.

“Sphagnum moss, a common component of peatlands, soaks up significant quantities of water like a sponge, while blocking drains has created pools and invited an array of wetter plants, all of which contributes to a wetter environment, where it’s far less likely that fire will take hold, but this type of work needs to increase beyond the Slieve Donard catchment area.”

Cllr Clarke also warned that the emergency is far from over, with fires in the Mournes still burning as councillors met.

He continued: “As we approach the Easter holidays, we need to be vigilant regarding barbecues, fires in our beauty spots and we need the council and other statutory and environmental organisations to work in partnership to ensure the Mournes are respected by visitors and locals alike.

“We need a management plan to control burns in a strategic way, working with landowners, trustees of the Mournes, the Forever Mournes Partnership, working with DEARA to carry out preventative works including installing fire breaks, the removal of large gorse areas and increasing support for wetlands in a phased manner and reduce the fuel load fires thrive on.”

Cllr Clarke said current regulations, safeguards and enforcement mechanisms are clearly not working, asking how many more fires must there be and how much more damage to the Mournes before something is done?

He has also called on the DAERA minister to urgently review the current ‘burn period’ and deliver on the promise of a fire prevention and management plan for the Mournes.

Cllr Clarke added: “This is not just about protecting our natural heritage. It’s about safeguarding communities, biodiversity and the future of our environment. The Mournes are home to a variety of species, many of which have been severely impacted by the fires.

“The destruction of rich habitats and the impact on our tourism product are significant concerns and we demand the protection and preservation of our precious Mournes.