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| Warning after 900 NI wild fires | |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| Firefighters in Northern Ireland have tackled nearly 900 wildland fires in the past six weeks. | Firefighters in Northern Ireland have tackled nearly 900 wildland fires in the past six weeks. |
| The figure was revealed as it emerged overnight fires in Slieve Gullion Forest Park are being treated as arson. | The figure was revealed as it emerged overnight fires in Slieve Gullion Forest Park are being treated as arson. |
| The alarm was raised on Tuesday after four separate fires started in young trees in the County Armagh park - each destroying about an acre of land. | |
| John Allen of the Fire and Rescue Service said the forest could have been destroyed in the blaze. | John Allen of the Fire and Rescue Service said the forest could have been destroyed in the blaze. |
| "We were very fortunate in that we received the call early and we had appliances at hand," he said. | "We were very fortunate in that we received the call early and we had appliances at hand," he said. |
| "I would be certain in my own mind that these fires were started deliberately." | "I would be certain in my own mind that these fires were started deliberately." |
| The Forestry Service raised the alarm at about 2130 BST on Tuesday. | The Forestry Service raised the alarm at about 2130 BST on Tuesday. |
| The Fire and Rescue Service said its crews had attended 880 wildland fires across Northern Ireland from 1 April - 13 May. | The Fire and Rescue Service said its crews had attended 880 wildland fires across Northern Ireland from 1 April - 13 May. |
| They urged people to be extra careful while out enjoying the countryside in the warm dry weather and to be vigilant for anyone starting fires deliberately. | They urged people to be extra careful while out enjoying the countryside in the warm dry weather and to be vigilant for anyone starting fires deliberately. |