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Weekend warning for wildfires issued for NI

Barra Best
BBC News NI weather reporter
BBC Two firefighters wearing large backpacks are looking at large plumes of smoke around gorse. They are wearing red hard helmets and tan fire resistant jackets.BBC
Almost 100 firefighters were tasked to a gorse fire near Clogher this week

An amber warning for wildfires has been issued for Northern Ireland this weekend as warm, dry, and settled conditions persist.

A yellow warning from the National Hazards Partnership is in place on Friday but this will be upgraded for Saturday, Sunday, and Monday.

A combination of dry vegetation and brisker winds create ideal conditions for wildfires to take hold.

The alert follows a cross-border wildfire in Counties Tyrone and Monaghan which began on Wednesday.

The Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service (NIFRS) says while they remain at the scene outside Clogher, the blaze has been contained.

A lone firefighter wearing a large, dark backpack and a fire resistant uniform. He is wearing a red hard helmet and is attempting to put out flames on gorse.
Firefighters were working throughout Thursday to put out the fire

Act responsibly

In April, the NIFRS urged members of the public to act responsibly when enjoying the countryside in the coming months.

In the Republic of Ireland an Irish government warning for the entire country is in place until noon on Monday.

The Condition Orange warning - the second highest level - signals a significant wildfire threat in all areas with dead grasses, heather, and gorse.

Visitors to public areas are being urged not to light open fires or barbecues in high risk areas.

At the beginning of April, the NIFRS said it attended 1,112 incidents over a week-long period, 296 of which were wildfires.