By Lisa Ramsden
A LOCAL search and rescue co-ordinator has warned “it is inevitable” lives will be lost if these arsonists are not stopped.
Martin McMullan is a member of the Mourne Mountain Rescue Team.
He was one of the local volunteers who late on Saturday was at The Ballagh, outside Newcastle, warning local people that they should pack bags and prepare to evacuate.
As ash rained on the land, and the flames could be seen tearing across the landscape that means so much to people, residents were forced to hurriedly choose what items they should pack – from medication and clothing to documentation and a handful of treasured photographs and possessions.
They were faced with the prospect of having to walk away, in many cases, from homes which have been in their families for generations.
They had to contemplate what they would have to leave behind, should the call be made for them to move out, and what scenes they could return to.
Now Mr McMullan has called for a concerted effort from the community to fight this form of rural arson.
He has also called for firebreaks to be improved across the local landscape.
With a profound sense of respect for, and awareness of, the mountain range, the local man said whoever started the fires “showed no concern” for the people being placed in danger.
With residents now on high alert, and with the Fire Service confirming its operations will continue in the area over the week, Mr McMullan has said it is a miracle that whoever is starting these fires has not caused anyone’s death.
“We have wild campers heading into the Mournes, we have people in their motorhomes and tents in campsites, and we have residents who are living in fear,” he said.
“What we had at the weekend, in such a condensed area at The Ballagh, was a truly frightening experience.
“The speed and scale of the fire was alarming.”
Echoing the many calls for anyone with information about how these fires started to contact the police or Crimestoppers, Mr McMullan said that during the weekend’s incident, the sense of panic was “hard to witness”.
“You were going to houses and telling people they should pack a few belongings, that they might need to leave, and to be prepared for the harsh reality of that.
“The impact this was having on people was rough.
“We were basically saying ‘you might not see your house again’, and when you’re telling that to people standing in total shock, with the fear on people’s faces, it was difficult.
“The Fire Service told us they wanted everyone out, but as we went along we were compromising, because we couldn’t make them leave.
“We were telling people to be prepared to go, to have the evacuation plan in place and that they would have to go with just a few minutes notice.
“We were looking at a wall of flame at around 1am, and it really hit home when we saw the blaze burning through and the devastation for the habitat, the wildlife, the biodiversity.
“The sheer devastation of that was gut-wrenching.
“This has had a horrific impact on the community.
“People are petrified.
“The people or persons who lit those fires showed total disregard for property, for the countryside, and for people’s safety.”
