Overview
- Wildfires that broke out over the weekend in the Mourne Mountains left one major blaze out at Ballagh Road, with crews still tackling a 500m fire line near Sandbank Road in Hilltown.
- At the height of the Ballagh Road incident, more than 80 firefighters battled a fire that NIFRS said spread across about 1,000 hectares.
- NIFRS believes the Ballagh Road fire was started deliberately, and Agriculture Minister Andrew Muir urged anyone with information to contact police or CrimeStoppers.
- Officials said DAERA will review wildfire legislation and the Department of Justice will examine sentencing for environmental offences linked to rural arson.
- Hot, dry weather sustained a wildfire warning for the area, and mountain rescue leaders said recent ignitions in remote spots did not look accidental.