Huge wildfire treated as arson

A huge gorse fire in County Down which led to the evacuation of homes in the vicinity of the Mourne Mountains is believed to have been started deliberately.

A major incident was declared after the large wildfire broke out on the Sandbank Road in Hilltown about 17:00 BST on Saturday.

More than 100 firefighters with 15 appliances worked throughout the night to bring it under control.

The Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service (NIFRS) said the blaze stretched for approximately two miles, including a large area of forestry and it was close to property.

The fire service told BBC News NI that a small number of nearby residents had been asked to leave their homes overnight.

Chief Fire Officer Aidan Jennings said the conditions had been very difficult, with high winds complicating efforts to dampen the blaze.

“The cause of this fire is believed to have been deliberate,” he said.

“I would like to acknowledge the dedication and commitment of our firefighters, control room operators and support staff who have worked tirelessly in recent days to ensure the safety of our community across Northern Ireland.”

The fire service began to reduce resources at the site at about 03:00 BST and by 07:00 on Sunday the blaze was extinguished.

The blaze came after the National Hazards Partnership issued an amber wildfire warning this weekend, highlighting the likelihood of fires that could be difficult to control.

Mr Jennings said that from midnight on 3 April to midnight on 5 April the fire service received a total of 741 calls into its regional control centre.

“We are asking the public to remain particularly vigilant to the risk of fire at this time. We can reassure members of the public that normal service delivery is being maintained,” he said.

The main Hilltown to Rostrevor Road and Sandbanks Road were closed for a number of hours but have since reopened.