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Children 'lit five forest fires' | |
(about 12 hours later) | |
Children were responsible for lighting five separate fires at a County Down forest park, the Fire and Rescue Service has said. | |
Crews had to fight the blazes in the dark near a 100ft drop at Rourke's Park, near Annalong, on Thursday night. | |
Brian Irvine of the Fire Service said the lives of his officers had been put at risk unnecessarily. | |
"We have been forced to put our men on the mountainside because people have deliberately lit fires," he said. | |
"They might have thought it was a bit of a joke, but they are actually risking people's lives." | |
Firefighters have had to deal with more than 400 gorse fires over the past seven days. | Firefighters have had to deal with more than 400 gorse fires over the past seven days. |
The Fire and Rescue Service urged the public to consider the consequences of their actions after blazes across Northern Ireland over Easter. | The Fire and Rescue Service urged the public to consider the consequences of their actions after blazes across Northern Ireland over Easter. |
Four fire appliances were brought in to tackle a blaze at Rourke's Park. | |
The police investigation into the incident is under way. | |
Firefighters were also called to deal with blazes on mountains near Florencecourt in County Fermanagh on Thursday evening. | |
Education | Education |
Efforts are under way to educate young people about the dangers of starting fires in dry weather. | Efforts are under way to educate young people about the dangers of starting fires in dry weather. |
In Carnmoney, a local beauty spot has been badly damaged after youths started fires there. | In Carnmoney, a local beauty spot has been badly damaged after youths started fires there. |
About 5,000 young trees have been destroyed, and an area the size of 10 football pitches has become an eyesore. | About 5,000 young trees have been destroyed, and an area the size of 10 football pitches has become an eyesore. |
The custodians of the grasslands, the Woodland Trust, are now working to make young people aware of the damage that they are causing. | The custodians of the grasslands, the Woodland Trust, are now working to make young people aware of the damage that they are causing. |
Brian Poots from the trust said: "There is no way we can be up here 24 hours a day walking the 169 acres. We cannot do it. | Brian Poots from the trust said: "There is no way we can be up here 24 hours a day walking the 169 acres. We cannot do it. |
"We have to educate people. We have to tell teachers, parents, the kids themselves, about the damage this causes, the destruction to the wildlife and the destruction to people's enjoyment. | "We have to educate people. We have to tell teachers, parents, the kids themselves, about the damage this causes, the destruction to the wildlife and the destruction to people's enjoyment. |
Brian Poots of the Woodland Trust said 5,000 saplings were destroyed | Brian Poots of the Woodland Trust said 5,000 saplings were destroyed |
"People are looking up at the hill, there is a big scar on the hill now." | "People are looking up at the hill, there is a big scar on the hill now." |
Mr Poots said about 5,000 saplings had been destroyed and would have to be replaced. | Mr Poots said about 5,000 saplings had been destroyed and would have to be replaced. |
"It will take years for this to actually come back again," he said. | "It will take years for this to actually come back again," he said. |
The risk of gorse fires - deliberate or accidental - can never be eliminated. | The risk of gorse fires - deliberate or accidental - can never be eliminated. |
But the real worry for groups like the Woodland Trust is that warmer springs and summers leave the ground like a tinderbox. | But the real worry for groups like the Woodland Trust is that warmer springs and summers leave the ground like a tinderbox. |
One fire in the Mourne Mountains was dangerously close to a park containing more than 400 caravans. | One fire in the Mourne Mountains was dangerously close to a park containing more than 400 caravans. |