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A large furze blaze in County Down This resulted in the evacuation of residences near the Mourne Mountains and is thought to have been intentionally ignited.
A significant event was declared following the outbreak of a massive wildfire on Sandbank Road in Hilltown around 5 PM BST on Saturday.
Over 100 firefighters using 15 fire engines labored through the night to get the situation under control.
The Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service (NIFRS) reported that the fire extended over roughly two miles, encompassing a significant section of woodland as well as areas near buildings.
'Deliberate'
The fire service informed News NI that a few local residents were requested to evacuate their houses during the night.
Chief Fire Officer Aidan Jennings stated that the circumstances were extremely challenging, with strong winds making it harder to suppress the fire.
He stated that the fire is thought to have been intentionally started.
I want to recognize the hard work and devotion of our firefighters, control room personnel, and support staff who have been working relentlessly over the past few days to guarantee the safety of everyone in Northern Ireland.
The fire department started scaling back their resources at the location around 03:00 BST, and by 07:00 on Sunday, the fire had been put out.
The fire occurred following the involvement of the National Hazards Partnership. issued a red alert for wildfires This weekend, emphasizing the high probability of blazes that might prove hard to manage.
Mr. Jennings stated that between midnight on April 3rd and midnight on April 5th, the fire service handled a total of 741 calls at its regional control center.
"We urge the public to stay highly alert regarding the fire risks currently present. I want to assure everyone that we are continuing with our regular services," he stated.
The primary roads from Hilltown to Rostrevor and Sandbanks were shut down for several hours but have now been reopened.
