LOCAL firefighters have been praised for their efforts in tackling a huge gorse fire that raged from Wednesday afternoon until Saturday just outside Clogher, a blaze which damaged around a third of the popular beauty spot Slieve Beagh.

The fire was first reported shortly before 1pm on Wednesday along Ballagh Road in Clogher. It quickly spread, prompting a large-scale response involving 15 front-line appliances, over 100 personnel, and several specialist vehicles.

As the fire progressed, it crossed the border into Co Monaghan, triggering a cross-border firefighting operation.

Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) Assembly Member Deborah Erskine described the scene saying, “The smoke coming from the fire could be seen for miles.”

She added, “It is devastating to see the fire raging, which will undoubtedly cause extensive damage to the natural habitat in the area.

“Whilst it is unknown at present how this fire was started, it is concerning for the local community and sad to see such loss. I want to place on record my thanks to the NI Fire and Rescue Service and the police for their work in tackling the blaze and protecting the community from harm. Crews came from across Northern Ireland and worked around the clock to bring the fire under control.”

Last month, Taoiseach Micheál Martin announced a €6 million investment from the Shared Island Fund over the next five years to develop Slieve Beagh as an eco-tourism destination. Local officials are now raising concerns about the potential impact the fire may have on those plans.

Slieve Beagh is home to protected habitats, including intact blanket bog and the endangered hen harrier, both of which are vulnerable to wildfire damage.

With dry weather continuing, the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service (NIFRS) and Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) have urged the public to be extra cautious.

NIFRS Area Commander Barry Ross said, “With the dry weather set to continue over the next few days, we are asking the public to support their firefighters by staying safe from fire in the countryside. Dealing with wildfires is not only challenging and physically demanding for our firefighters, but it is also extremely resource intensive for our service and partner agencies.

“If you are enjoying the weather this weekend, please do so responsibly and follow our safety advice.”