The burning of heather, gorse and other vegetation can be catastrophic for wildlife and their habitats, especially during the breeding season. The law states that heather or gorse burning must not be carried out between 15 April and 31 August. Controlled burning should only be carried out in suitable weather conditions which occur in Northern Ireland on average only 10 days per year.
Virtually all gorse, heather and forest fires in Northern Ireland are started deliberately and the team at Allen and Mellon had to call the emergency services to attend serious fires on four occasions last year. In April 2020 the fire which destroyed a significant part of the moorland at Slievanorra and Croaghan ASSI was the worst we have ever witnessed.
We appeal to all landowners and the general public to be aware of the law on burning and of the serious consequences of committing the emergency services to risk and danger, especially during a global pandemic.
The NI Fire and Rescue Service have produced a useful brochure on burning vegetation - click here.
Aftermath of a fire in the Antrim Hills April 2020