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Mourne Wildfires: Tackling Fires 'Expected to Continue Across the Week'
About 80 firefighters tackled blazes at three Mourne Mountains sites as officials urged hillwalkers and residents to stay away.
On Monday, the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service deployed about 95 firefighters to battle wildfires across the Mourne Mountains, including incidents at Ballagh Road in Newcastle and Sandbank Road in Hilltown.
Across the weekend, fires spread rapidly through gorse and heather, reaching toward the Coast Road and Donard Forest in Newcastle, which forced the evacuation of a caravan park.
Mourne Mountain Rescue coordinator McMullan warned that recurring wildfires face "no consequences" for those responsible, while Environment Minister Andrew Muir stated "rural arson is a crime."
The Department of Agriculture, Environment, and Rural Affairs published a new wildfire action plan in April with dozens of measures aimed at improving resilience and reducing fire frequency and severity.
Firefighting operations are expected to continue throughout the week, as NIFRS reiterates appeals for hillwalkers and locals to avoid these areas and call 999 immediately if they see a fire.