Fire crews tackle reserve blaze

A large area of a County Down nature reserve has been destroyed in an early morning fire, the Fire and Rescue Service has said.

The fire, at Murlough National Nature Reserve, was reported to the emergency services at 0500 BST on Sunday.

Alan Fulford from the fire service said 50 firefighters from stations across the county attended the blaze.

He said that about 600 square metres had been burnt, but that it "could have been much worse".

"The particular area we're looking at here doesn't have a lot of fire-breaks in it - potentially many acres could have been lost," he said.

"I was speaking to the National Trust officer this morning who was very concerned about the wildlife that could have been lost.

"There are some different types of birds and wildlife you only get round here, so potentially the loss to the wildlife could have been substantial."

Care urged

Fire appliances from Ballynahinch, Rathfriland, Newry, Downpatrick and Newcastle attended the fire.

The reserve is a fragile 5,000 year old sand dune system with heathland and woodland surrounded by estuary and sea.

Almost an acre of protected heathland was destroyed in the blaze, with windy conditions helping the flames to spread.

David Thompson from the National Trust said the fire could have devastated the reserve and the birds that nest there.

"The consequences of these fires can be enormous," he said.

"It could destroy the reserve if the wrong fire was started and it went the wrong way.

"We could get 250 hectares of the island of Ireland and the UK's premier lowland heathland dune and grassland systems all going up in smoke."

It is not known if the cause of the fire was deliberate or accidental, but visitors to the area are being urged to take extra care.