Luke SprouleBBC News NI Mid Ulster reporter
BBC
The Environment Minister says it’s important that different agencies worked together to tackle wildfires
People who deliberately light wildfires in Northern Ireland have been told by the environment minister that law enforcement is determined to track them down and take them to court.
Andrew Muir was speaking at the launch of a strategic framework to tackle the threat of wildfires.
He said a joined-up approach between organisations including government departments and emergency services was the best way to reduce the threat of wildfires in Northern Ireland.
Wildfires have been a key area of concern for environmental groups in recent years, with more than 200 over the course of a few days at the start of April.
“I’ve got a clear message for those who are deliberately setting malicious fires in our countryside, we’re coming after you, and for those who are shielding them, you need to give them up,” Muir said.
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Firefighters have been tackling a significant wildfire in the Mourne Mountains in Co Down in April
The minister said it was important that different agencies worked together to tackle wildfires.
In the area of enforcement, the framework identifies that there should be a review of the laws around wildfires caused by malice or negligence.
“It’s only by the grace of god that no one’s been killed or seriously injured as a result of them,” Muir said.
“Those who are going out and deliberately lighting malicious fires in our countryside they need to think twice, they need to know that Police Service of Northern Ireland knows about this and that they’re going to be looking for prosecutions.”
Wildfires more likely
The framework hopes that it can encourage communities, agencies and landowners to work together.
It hopes this will lead to a better ability to detect and prepare for wildfires and also improve coordination when tackling the fires and when helping the recovery process.
The framework was launched at Peatlands Park in County Tyrone.
Peatlands have often been damaged by fires, including Slieve Beagh in May, with conservationists warning it could take thousands of years for the peatland to recover.
The environment minister said climate change meant wildfires were more likely.
In the response section of the framework, one of the focuses is on developing early warning systems and improving cross-border cooperation.
Area commander Ryan Thompson says educating of landowners and communities is crucial
Area commander Ryan Thompson, the wildfire lead at the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service, said the response to wildfires involved emergency services, multiple government departments, non-governmental agencies and people from the voluntary sector.
He said fires were “long, arduous incidents” which took a toll on his fire crews.
“These wildfires have massive impact obviously on wildlife, on the geographical areas, on special habitats,” he said.
“There are health risks to the community, the smoke plumes that come off them that people don’t think about or see.
“Then obviously the health risks to firefighters and to responding agencies if you’re dealing with dangerous situations.”
He said educating of landowners and communities was crucial to reducing the number of wildfires.
The framework identifies the importance of developing more public awareness of the health risks associated with the fires.
The framework runs up to 2030 and focuses on:
PreventionPreparednessResponseRecoveryEnforcement
It will be followed in 2026 by a dedicated Wildfire Action Plan.
