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Youths strike as crews fight fire Fire crews tackling gorse blaze
(about 4 hours later)
As firefighters battled a major blaze in the Mourne Mountains, youths were spotted starting other fires close by, the Fire and Rescue Service has said. Fire crews are dealing with a gorse fire at Hilltown in County Down.
About 50 acres of gorseland near Tullybrannigan were destroyed in the fire which, the service said, was started deliberately on Sunday. The Fire and Rescue Service has five pumps at the scene. There is no indication yet as to whether the fire is deliberate.
Forestry, a number of houses and a caravan park came under threat. Earlier, firefighters said that while they battled a major blaze in the Mourne Mountains, youths were spotted starting other fires close by.
About 50 acres of gorseland near Tullybrannigan were destroyed in the fire, which was started deliberately.
Forestry, a number of houses and a caravan park came under threat during Sunday's fire.
About 75 firefighters spent nearly seven hours working to bring the blaze under control.About 75 firefighters spent nearly seven hours working to bring the blaze under control.
Gordon Latimer from the Fire and Rescue service said: "We are now satisfied that these fires were started deliberately.Gordon Latimer from the Fire and Rescue service said: "We are now satisfied that these fires were started deliberately.
"There were three different seats of fire. During fire fighting operations, there were youths who were seen setting fire to grassland close by.""There were three different seats of fire. During fire fighting operations, there were youths who were seen setting fire to grassland close by."
The service received a call about the blaze at about 1440 BST on Sunday and seven appliances went to the scene.The service received a call about the blaze at about 1440 BST on Sunday and seven appliances went to the scene.
Malicious firesMalicious fires
Mr Latimer said crews encountered quite difficult terrain, but their main concern was to stop the fire spreading further.Mr Latimer said crews encountered quite difficult terrain, but their main concern was to stop the fire spreading further.
"The fact that we've have prolonged periods of dry weather, means the grass is dry quite far down, the winds are coming in off the sea, that's fanning the flames and moving the firefront on quite quickly," he said."The fact that we've have prolonged periods of dry weather, means the grass is dry quite far down, the winds are coming in off the sea, that's fanning the flames and moving the firefront on quite quickly," he said.
"So it becomes a very difficult task.""So it becomes a very difficult task."
The blaze tied up resources for a number of hours.The blaze tied up resources for a number of hours.
A number of other recent gorse fires in Northern Ireland have been started deliberately.A number of other recent gorse fires in Northern Ireland have been started deliberately.
Mr Latimer added: "We would like to ask people to consider firefighters who are trying to provide normal service delivery.Mr Latimer added: "We would like to ask people to consider firefighters who are trying to provide normal service delivery.
"Whether it is accidental ignition, whether it is people who are deliberately burning off some of their land or whether it is people who are maliciously setting light to the land, I would ask them to try to refrain from that.""Whether it is accidental ignition, whether it is people who are deliberately burning off some of their land or whether it is people who are maliciously setting light to the land, I would ask them to try to refrain from that."