Fears flames could have spread to 1,100 acres of forest

SDLP representative Harry Connolly was speaking as a fire chief believed the blazes were deliberately started in gorse in the Altarichard Road area on Sunday.

One of the biggest was around 10pm on Sunday when firefighters had to use beaters to put out the flames.

Coleraine Fire Station Commander Jim Murphy told the Ballymoney Times firefighters had to respond to fires in the area on three occasions.

Mr Murphy said that if firefighters are deployed up mountains fighting deliberate gorse fires they are unable to respond to house fires or road accidents.

"I would ask people to be mindful of these resources when the Fire Service can't be everywhere. If we are up a hill we are not able to attend to house fires or road traffic collisions and as such these deliberate fires are putting people in danger."

There are no houses in the Altarichard area but any time there is a gorse fire in the area local people are concerned that the flames could spread into the vast acres of forests in the area.

SDLP councillor Harry Connolly, who used to work for the Forestry Service, told the Times: "If these fires had spread they could have burned out acres of trees which is very worrying and I want to praise the Fire Service for their good work in putting these fires out.

"These forests have 1,100 acres of timber and are vital to the economy of this area as they provide work and I would appeal to whoever is lighting these fires to stop.

"These forests take years to grow but they could be wiped out in a fire very quickly."

Alderman Connolly was also concerned at the impact any gorse fire has on wildlife in the area.

"Birds are hatching at this time of the year and there would be larks and grouse in that area," said the councillor.

He believed small fires were also started in hedge rows and fences of people's property in the area, which he condemned.