McMurray MLA welcomes wildfire management progress in the Mournes
Alliance South Down MLA Andrew McMurray has welcomed work undertaken to prepare for future outbreaks of wildfires in the Mournes.
The South Down MLA said “Rural arson has been a scourge on the Mournes for many years.
“These fires, which are often started maliciously or by negligence, destroy already fragile habitats, endanger the health and safety of local communities, and hurt local economies.
They also come at a substantial cost to the taxpayer.
“During this week’s Question Time, I asked the DAERA Minister to outline any work his Department is undertaking to prepare for outbreaks of wildfires in the Mournes and to provide detail on wildfire management plans for the Mournes.
“I was pleased to hear that a range of actions have been taken to prepare for any future wildfire seasons in the coming weeks.
“Some of the actions are already being progressed, such as a specific wildfire management plan for designated sites in the Mournes.
“This will be developed by a consortium of international experts and will identify wildfire risks and management recommendations and response plans for the area.
“I welcome these actions and I would call on members of the public to do their part to keep our mountains safe this coming wildfire season by refraining from lighting careless or malicious fires,” said Andrew McMurray.
