Firefighters in Northern Ireland dragged after the fire swept through the forest
LONDON (AP) – Northern Ireland firefighters swept the forest land in the southeast corner of the province overnight as people worry about the warm, dry weather throughout the UK.
Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Authority announced a major incident at 11:53 p.m. on Saturday, with more than 100 firefighters and 14 pieces of equipment deployed in a rural area outside the Hilltown community. The fire was under control in the early hours of Sunday morning.
The fire department said the fire was believed to have started on purpose. Authorities in Northern Ireland condemned a series of factions that have deliberately set up wildfires in the region on March 28.
“People who illuminate these fires may put their lives and the lives of others at risk, including firefighters and other emergency services to deal with them,” Andrew Muir, secretary of the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs, said in a statement.
Firefighters across the UK are on their guard this weekend thanks to a series of warm spring weather.
Police in Scotland advised people to avoid the lake area of East Ayrshire due to wildfires burning in southwestern Scotland.
Many fires also occurred in Bodmin Moor in Cornwall, southwest England. The Devon and Cornwall Police Department advised travelers to avoid the area as they closed many roads in the Boulvent area to assist firefighters.
