Mournes wildfires continue to burn amid investigation into cause

Wildfires have been brought under control in the Mourne mountains, but firefighters say they could continue to burn for another day before they can be completely extinguished.

Crews were first called to tackle a blaze stretching over two miles on Tuesday evening.

They have been working with beaters and knapsack sprayers to try to put out the fires on Cock and Hen Mountains and near Spelga Dam.

It comes after three fires on Belfast’s Cave Hill and Black Mountain in the space of 24 hours earlier this week.

The Mournes were also devastated by a blaze last April.

An investigation into the cause of the latest fires is ongoing, but it is feared that they may have been started deliberately.

While there was no risk to the public or to buildings, death came swiftly to wildlife.

• Video: UTV's Barbara McCann reports from the Mournes

Local resident Vincent McAlinden told UTV: “We need to all support the Fire Service and the police to be vigilant to try to reduce these things happening.

“And when they do happen, we need to speak up and be a voice for these special places, because once they’re gone, they’re gone.”

NI Water has also warned of the potential impact on water supplies.

“Wildfires not only pose a terrible risk to all life, but can remove the primary layer of vegetation,” Rebecca Allen, Catchment Liaison Officer at NI Water, explained.

“That leaves the burned bare soil exposed to erosion which then makes its way into the reservoirs, from where water is abstracted for treatment to be drinking water.”

While water quality is currently unaffected, she added: “The great erosion caused by wildfire increases carbon and other polluting chemicals significantly in raw (untreated) water, with sediment accumulates in streams, lakes and reservoirs.

“This makes raw water especially difficult and more expensive to treat at our facilities to the stringent standards required by the Drinking Water Regulations.

“A significant amount of other work by our water supply colleagues also has to be undertaken at the treatment works to ensure excellent quality drinking water during these times.

“Extra water samples have to be collected and analysed, streams from burned areas need isolated, and other remedial measures must be taken like blocking streams to protect reservoirs.”