Northern Ireland Executive
04 May 2023, 16:30 GMT+10
There have been over 100 wildfires in Northern Ireland since February 2023 and the public are being asked for their help, in order to reduce the number of incidents.
Although the weather has been changeable recently, ground and vegetation conditions are relatively dry which can cause fires to catch and spread quickly, particularly during spells of dry weather.
The Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA), the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service (NIFRS) and the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) are asking the public, farmers and land managers for their help during current and upcoming periods of dry weather.
The NIEA, NIFRS and PSNI are advising visitors to rural areas, as well as residents, to act responsibly and be vigilant for wildfires especially over the May bank holidays. Many of the recent fires have spread rapidly due to the dry conditions, putting the public, property, firefighters and important habitats and species at risk.
Fires can take hold and spread quickly on dry ground, with potentially devastating consequences. Wildfires are illegal and the deliberate setting of wildfires is a criminal offence. Wildfires are almost always started by humans either deliberately or through carelessness. They put lives at risk, destroy our surroundings and the wildlife in them, and are a real cost to society.
Please heed the following advice:
If you are in the countryside:
Get a daily dose of Belfast Bulletin news through our daily email, its complimentary and keeps you fully up to date with world and business news as well.
Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to Belfast Bulletin.
More InformationLONDON, U.K.: British Prime Minister Keir Starmer won a vote in Parliament this week to move ahead with changes to the country's welfare...
LONDON, UK - Lawmakers in the United Kingdom have voted overwhelmingly to proscribe the direct-action group Palestine Action as a terrorist...
DUBLIN, Ireland: Former government minister Mary Hanafin has confirmed she will seek the Fianna Fáil nomination to contest Ireland's...
LONDON, U.K.: British oil giant Shell has denied reports that it is in talks to acquire rival oil company BP. The Wall Street Journal...
Award honours Northern Ireland fallen police and prison staff Date published: 4 July 2025 The first...
Lyons confirms completion of Portrush Urban Development Grant Scheme Date published: 4 July 2025 ...
MADRID, Spain: Liverpool footballer Diogo Jota and his younger brother, André Silva, have died in a car accident in Spain. Spanish...
LONDON, U.K.: An unrelenting heatwave sweeping across Europe has pushed early summer temperatures to historic highs, triggering deadly...
President Donald Trump's plans to build a space-based Golden Dome missile defense shield have drawn immediate criticism from China,...
NEW YORK CITY, New York: Paramount has agreed to pay US$16 million to settle a lawsuit brought by U.S. President Donald Trump over...
LONDON, U.K.: British Prime Minister Keir Starmer won a vote in Parliament this week to move ahead with changes to the country's welfare...
WASHINGTON, D.C.: President Donald Trump will meet Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House on Monday. President...