Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service (NIFRS) has revealed a staggering 158% increase in the number of Gorse Fires attended (5,902) in 2010 compared to the previous year
NIFRS is warning of the dangers of deliberate fire setting in the countryside, as Gorse Fires are a serious and growing community problem for Northern Ireland.
Last week alone (20th - 27th March 2011) due to the dry weather, Fire Crews responded to a total of 289 Gorse and Wildland Fires right across Northern Ireland and while some of these fires are started accidentally, the vast majority are believed to have been started deliberately.
Peter Craig, Chief Fire Officer, Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service (NIFRS) said; “The community in Northern Ireland needs to decide where they want their Fire & Rescue Service? Up mountains tackling deliberately set fires or at their local Fire Stations ready to deal with life threatening emergencies and protecting our community.
“When individuals decide to deliberately go out into our countryside or up our mountains to start fires deliberately they are putting not only Firefighters' lives at risk but also everyone in the local community.
“Tackling Gorse and Wildland Fires present extreme challenges for us as an emergency service. It means deploying Firefighters and their equipment, to usually quite remote locations, often for prolonged period of times, working under hazardous and intense heat to bring these fires under control. These fires can easily spread and even a slight change in wind direction can pose a serious risk to life, property and the environment.
“Gorse Fires put extra pressure on NIFRS resources. We cannot be in 2 places at once and fighting gorse fires mean that Fire Appliances are taken away from other duties and are unable to respond if another emergency call comes in. We have to put contingency plans place to ensure continued cover for towns and villages across Northern Ireland in order to maintain emergency cover but this may result in a slight delay when responding.
“Gorse fires can also be caused unintentionally by thoughtless and careless behavior. We want people to enjoy the countryside in the coming dry months and over school holidays but we would appeal for them to take care and not to be complacent. Both deliberate and accidental fires can cost lives and we recommend that the public heed the following fire safety advice to protect themselves and our countryside:
- Extinguish cigarettes and other smoking materials properly.
- Never throw cigarette ends out of car windows.
- Only use barbecues in designated and safe areas and never leave them unattended. Keep children and ball games away from barbecues.
- Ensure that barbecues are fully extinguished and cold before disposing of their contents.
- Avoid using open fires in the countryside.
- Do not leave bottles or glass in woodlands. Sunlight shining through glass can start a fire. Take them home or put them in a waste or recycling bin.
- If you see a fire in the countryside, report it immediately to the Fire & Rescue Service. Don’t attempt to tackle fires that cannot be put out with no more than a bucket of water. Leave the area as soon as possible.
- Report any suspicious behaviour to the Police.
As part of the Gorse Fire Appeal to tackle this growing community problem, NIFRS is continuing to work closely with the wider community and a wide range of key partners to help drive down the number of Gorse Fires.
NIFRS is also launching a new TV advertisement on 1 April 2011 to highlight this important community fire safety message – deliberate fire setting in the countryside costs lives.