Hundreds of wildfires have been tearing across parts of Scotland and Northern Ireland since Thursday, with one man having been arrested on suspicion of deliberately starting a blaze.
More than 50 firefighters are still tackling significant wildfires in the Mourne Mountains, a mountain range and Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty in Northern Ireland, after a major incident was declared over the weekend and multiple homes were evacuated.
An urgent “very high risk” alert has been issued for the whole of Scotland where firefighters continue to battle fires – with around 90 separate blazes reported over the weekend.
In Northern Ireland, firefighters have tackled almost 150 blazes in the Mourne Mountains since Thursday night and an amber wildfire warning is expected to stay in place until the end of the week.
The blaze in the Bloody Bridge area of the mountain range has “escalated” since it broke out, Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service (NIFRS) said on Tuesday.
Separate wildfires have been reported in the Garry Wood area, close to the village of Dervock, the Sawel Mountain area of Newtownstewart and the Carncullagh Road area of Dervock.
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A 25-year-old man was arrested on Sunday – and later released on bail – on suspicion of arson.
According to NIFRS, the majority of the fires were started deliberately.
Across Scotland, around 90 outdoor fires were reported over the weekend, with the fire and rescue service’s “very high” wildfire warning in place until Wednesday.
An “extreme” wildfire warning has been issued for the southwest, eastern, central, and north of Scotland until Thursday.
The biggest blazes broke out at Galloway Forest Park in southwest Scotland last Thursday and stretched from Loch Doon to the Newton Stewart area.
Seperately, a grass fire was reported in Inverpolly Forest, north of Ullapool.
With more warm and dry weather expected across the UK in the coming days, the public has been urged to exercise caution when out in rural areas during the Easter holidays.
Area commander at the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service David Harbinson said temperature increases would lead to “greater risk”, warning that hotter conditions will also make “conditions for firefighters more arduous”.
Firefighters battle wildfires in in the Mourne Mountains in Co Down (NIFRS/PA Wire)First Minister of Northern Ireland Michelle O’Neill described the destruction as “devastating” and said there is “no option” but for ministers to work to prevent wildfires.
Speaking to reporters at Parliament Buildings in Belfast on Tuesday afternoon, she said: “It’s time for everybody to put their heads together to ensure that this doesn’t happen and where it can be prevented we need to do everything we can to ensure it is prevented.”
Northern Ireland’s environment minister Andrew Muir, who visited the Mourne Mountains on Monday, sent a stark warning to those involved in setting deliberate fires: “You are causing a catastrophic impact to our environment but also you are putting lives and people’s homes and farms at risk.
“You could end up being charged with manslaughter,” he added.
The Scottish government’s justice secretary Angela Constance said: “As we continue to see a period of warm and dry weather, it’s essential that all of us act responsibly while enjoying the outdoors so we can keep the number of wildfires at an absolute minimum.”
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