skip to main content

Firefighters tackle wildfire near Glenshane Pass

The gorse fire seen burning near the Glenshane Road in Maghera, Co Derry (Photo: BBC NI)
The gorse fire seen burning near the Glenshane Road in Maghera, Co Derry (Photo: BBC NI)

More than 75 firefighters attended a gorse fire in Co Derry last night.

The blaze took hold close to the Glenshane Road over the Sperrin Mountains near Maghera.

Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service said that there were ten fire appliances and 75 firefighters in attendance at the scene at the height of the incident. The blaze was brought under control by 11pm.

The service has appealed to the public to adhere to fire safety advice with a weather warning still in place.

Firefighters have already dealt with around 350 wildfires across Northern Ireland in just over a week.

Those included a significant blaze in the Mourne Mountains in Co Down last weekend which sparked a major incident and saw people evacuated from their homes.

Many of the fires are believed to have been started deliberately.