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700 fires put pressure on service 700 fires put pressure on service
(about 17 hours later)
Tackling gorse fires is a huge drain on the Fire and Rescue Service's resources, a spokesman has warned.Tackling gorse fires is a huge drain on the Fire and Rescue Service's resources, a spokesman has warned.
Jim McCallum was speaking as 200 firefighters were called in to tackle three more major gorse fires in Counties Londonderry and Down. The service has dealt with more than 700 gorse fires so far this month.
In April, the service dealt with more than 700 gorse fires, he said. Jim McCallum from the fire service said it was a "major challenge" to maintain fire cover across Northern Ireland, with so many gorse fires.
Mr McCallum said it was a "major challenge" to maintain fire cover across Northern Ireland, when faced with so many gorse fires. With dry weather set to continue over the weekend, the service has appealed for people to be vigilant and report any suspicious behaviour to police.
On Friday, 200 firefighters were called in to tackle three more major gorse fires in Counties Londonderry and Down.
Six pumps were used to tackle a blaze at Claudy, County Derry, and fire crews were also called to Sand Bank Road, Hilltown.Six pumps were used to tackle a blaze at Claudy, County Derry, and fire crews were also called to Sand Bank Road, Hilltown.
Both these fires are now under control, but a blaze at Flagstaff Mountain, Newry, was still burning late on Friday night. One of the largest fires was at Tulnacross, near Cookstown, which destroyed 250 acres of gorse and forest.
There were fears that it could spread to a nearby forest. However, no homes had to be evacuated because of the fires, the service confirmed. It is thought that many of the fires have been started deliberately.
It is thought that many of the fires were started deliberately. The fire service has been stretched by the volume of fires
5,000 saplings were destroyed in Carnmoney
"The service has a primary responsiblity to provide fire cover for all parts of the province," Mr McCallum said."The service has a primary responsiblity to provide fire cover for all parts of the province," Mr McCallum said.
"It is a major challenge, obviously, when resources are deployed to these large fires to make sure that we can still maintain fire cover for the other parts of the province, so that crews are available to respond to domestic fires, road traffic collisions and a whole range of incidents.""It is a major challenge, obviously, when resources are deployed to these large fires to make sure that we can still maintain fire cover for the other parts of the province, so that crews are available to respond to domestic fires, road traffic collisions and a whole range of incidents."
Earlier on Friday, firefighters said children were responsible for lighting five separate fires at a County Down forest park.Earlier on Friday, firefighters said children were responsible for lighting five separate fires at a County Down forest park.
Crews had to fight the blazes in the dark near a 100ft drop at Rourke's Park, near Annalong, on Thursday night.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.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."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.""They might have thought it was a bit of a joke, but they are actually risking people's lives."
The Fire and Rescue Service urged the public to consider the consequences of their actions after blazes across Northern Ireland over Easter.