‘High’ Forest Fire Risk Warning extended into next week

A nationwide Status Orange ‘High’ Forest Fire Risk Warning has been extended until next Monday.

The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine has requested landowners and the public to avoid all outdoor fires and other open ignition sources.

The Department said, “Current easterly high-pressure dominated weather and dry weather conditions are forecast to continue over coming days ahead of an expected change in conditions later in the week. Elevated fire risks are expected to remain in all areas pending this change.”

“Fire behaviour and spread rates will be strongly influenced by increasingly dry fuel conditions, low humidity levels and light to moderate windspeeds. Windspeeds may exceed 20km/h in some areas at times.

“While some areas may receive isolated rain showers during this time, most areas can be expected to see dry weather, light to moderate winds, and strongly elevated fire risks in areas with fire-prone upland vegetation types,” added the Department.

Members of the public and visitors to forests and other recreational areas are also being asked by Coillte to cooperate with all requests regarding fire safety, obey all relevant byelaws and should not use barbeques or other outdoor fire sources in amenity areas.

The Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service (NIFRS) is also urging the public to remain alert to fire hazards.

Between Thursday and Saturday, NIFRS logged 741 calls to its Regional Control Centre, with 146 concerning gorse fires.

Over the weekend, 15 fire appliances and more than 100 firefighters were deployed to combat wildfires in the Silent Valley and Ben Crom regions near Newcastle.

An amber weather alert persists across Northern Ireland due to ongoing wildfires.

The latest incidents come just days after a fire was extinguished near Spelga Dam in the Mourne Mountains and other fires on Slieve Binnian during the previous week.

Elsewhere, there have been fires in the Glens of Antrim, Bridgetown and Doonbeg in Clare, the Sperrin Mountains in County Tyrone, Killarney in Kerry, and in West Cavan.