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Crews tackle Cavehill gorse fires Cavehill gorse fires 'deliberate'
(about 6 hours later)
Fire crews have been tackling at least two major gorse fires at Cavehill on the outskirts of north Belfast. Fire crews have tackled several major gorse fires at Cavehill on the outskirts of north Belfast.
A large section of the Glengormley side of the mountain is ablaze. A large section of the Glengormley side of the mountain was ablaze, but burnt itself out. The Fire Service believe the fires were started deliberately.
Six fire appliances are being used to help bring the fires under control, but their remote location and the dark has hampered firefighters' efforts. Six fire appliances were used to help bring the fires under control, but their remote location and the dark hampered firefighters' efforts.
The full extent of the damage will not be known until daylight. In the last two weeks, the fire service has tackled more than 700 gorse and forest fires. In the last two weeks, there have been more than 700 gorse and forest fires.
'Started deliberately'
Geoff White from the Fire and Rescue Service said: "The fires on Cavehill are now out.
"Once we removed our personnel from the hill due to safety and welfare reasons, we kept a watching brief from strategic locations.
"Our firefighters had been quickly on the scene just after 7pm, and once through difficult firefighting circumstances, they tackled the blaze and managed to avoid the fire spreading."
He added: "The indications are at this stage that, from the numbers of fires and locations, that the fires were started deliberately.
"We will be carrying out further investigations and tackling the problems with other relevant agencies."
Mr White said the service had received more than 100 calls about the fires from members of the public.
Meanwhile, the Travel Lodge on Londonderry's Strand Road was evacuated as firefighters dealt with a blaze in the neighbouring Wetherspoons Bar.
The fire, which started in toilets, was discovered after a fire alarm went off.
It is believed to have been started by a discarded cigarette.