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Hikers 'devastated' over Mourne Mountains wildfires

Catherine Doyle
BBC News NI
Reporting fromNewcastle, County Down
NIFRS Fire fighters at the scene of the fire in Bloody Bridge, County Down. Six of them can be seen in tan-coloured uniforms with bright yellow trim. They are standing in gorse which is not burning but in front of them there is gorse which is burning, orange flames are jumping up from it.NIFRS
More than 75 firefighters battled the blaze at Bloody Bridge in County Down

As wildfires raged above the seaside town of Newcastle, County Down, the people below couldn't hide their sadness at the destruction unfolding.

There have been more than 140 fires in the area since Thursday night and firefighters have been beating back the flames in an attempt to get them under control.

The Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service (NIFRS) managed to contain a wildfire at Bloody Bridge along the Kilkeel Road on Tuesday but were then tasked to another blaze on the nearby Slieve Bearnagh mountain.

As smoke could be seen coming from the mountains which tower over Newcastle, one keen Mourne walker described the scene as "devastating".

A major incident was declared at the weekend when a large wildfire broke out near the Mourne Mountains. That blaze is being treated as arson.

Dog walker Angel Jennings from Dundrum, County Down, said it was "sick" that wildfires were being started deliberately.

"It's just devastating to see, because it's so beautiful," she told BBC News NI.

Angel is wearing a cap and sunglasses. She has a necklace on and is wearing a woolly hoodie and a maroon top. She has a ball thrower for a dog over her shoulder. In the background are hills and trees. A dog is on a lead.
Angel says the Mournes are one of the "most beautiful places in Northern Ireland"

Angel walks in the Mournes almost every day and said the landscape was beginning to return to normal after the significant fires in April 2021.

On that occasion, nearly 300 hectares of land was destroyed by the extensive gorse fires, with Slieve Donard being one of the worst-hit areas.

"The last fires caused so much damage and destruction, and it's only really starting to repair from that... now there are more fires, which sucks," she told BBC News NI.

Walkers are being asked by the Ulster Federation of Rambling Clubs not to visit the Higher Mournes to ensure no further pressure is being put on the emergency services.

PA Media White smoke fills the blue sky as it comes off a burning wildfire in the Mourne Mountains. The mountain can be seen in the distance and the clouds of white smoke travel high above it to its right. The area is covered in green overgrown bushes.PA Media
Firefighters have been tackling wildfires in the Mournes since last week

Firefighters were also dealing with a fire at Trassey Track, near Newcastle and urged people in the area to keep their windows and doors closed.

More than 75 firefighters were involved in the Bloody Bridge wildfire and the fire remains under investigation, the NIFRS said.

Wildfires also broke out at Silent Valley near Kilkeel.

'Disgrace' fires started deliberately

Niall Crozier arrived in Newcastle on Monday night, travelling from his home in Portadown in County Armagh.

"You couldn't see the top of Donard because of the smoke."

He said "there cannot be any constructive thought" behind starting fires on the mountains.

"You're destroying the environment up there for a lot of wildlife, you're causing a major problem for the fire service."

Kathleen is wearing a body warmer and a stripy top. Michael is wearing a blue and black jacket and a blue and black shirt. The Mourne Mountains are behind them.
Kathleen and Michael, from Ballyward, in County Down, say the fires are "worrying"

Kathleen Murray and Michael Pollock live in Ballyward, outside Castlewellan, County Down, and said it was a "disgrace" that fires were started deliberately.

"I can't see how anybody would go up and start a fire, what the purpose of that is, and the environmental impact can go on for years, so I just don't get it," Kathleen said.

Michael added: "The notion that someone would start it deliberately is just ludicrous."

Ben Crom 'left black' by fire

The mountains are in the distance behind Jeremy and Janet. Jeremy is wearing a blue top and Janet is wearing a stripy top. Both are wearing sunglasses.
Jeremy and Janet, from Newcastle, say the fires are horrendous

Jeremy Charles Irvine from Newcastle, said the wildfires on the Mourne Mountains are "extremely worrying" and have been happening "over the best few weeks".

"But it's been exacerbated in the past week, so I wish people would just wise up and stop doing it."

He added that it's "really dreadful" that a number of fires are being treated as arson.

"There's just no excuse for that. It's absolutely atrocious. It's really, really woeful."

His wife, Janet, described it as "horrendous".

"It's like tinder up there," she said.

"The grass is just completely dried out and you have to think of what the aftermath of what your actions are.

"There's people's livelihoods that has been effected and putting other people's lives at risk."

Jeremy added that the mountain of Ben Crom, where another wildfire broke out, "is totally black".

"We know the area from walking and it's vast, vast areas of heather, which would normally now be starting to thrive a bit, but it won't have a chance with that."