Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service (NIFRS) said firefighters were responding to multiple wildfires burning across Northern Ireland on the evening of 7 April 2025, with an amber weather warning for wildfires in place1. The service said firefighting operations were expected to continue across the evening at the main incidents and appealed for people to avoid those areas1.
At Bloody Bridge in the Mournes, 6 fire appliances and 33 firefighters were tackling a 1.5km fire front, following an initial call the previous day at 6.05pm1. In the nearby Slievenaman Road area, 6 fire appliances and 30 firefighters were firefighting a 1km fire front1. In Western Area Command, 6 fire appliances and 33 firefighters were at the scene of a wildfire in the Sawel Mountain area of Newtownstewart, Co Tyrone, and in Northern Area Command, 22 firefighters were dealing with a wildfire on the Carncullagh Road in the Dervock area1. Firefighters had also responded to a number of other smaller gorse fires across Northern Ireland that day1.
| Area | NIFRS figures, 7 April 20251 |
|---|---|
| Bloody Bridge, Mournes | 6 fire appliances, 33 firefighters, 1.5km fire front |
| Slievenaman Road | 6 fire appliances, 30 firefighters, 1km fire front |
| Sawel Mountain, Newtownstewart, Co Tyrone | 6 fire appliances, 33 firefighters |
| Carncullagh Road, Dervock area | 22 firefighters |
On 8 April, an NIFRS spokesperson said the Bloody Bridge wildfire had been dealt with, with more than 75 firefighters involved in tackling a fire front of 2 miles, and that the cause remained under investigation2. Over 16 firefighters were then at the scene of another wildfire close to Bloody Bridge on the Slieve Bearnagh area of the Mourne Mountains, with 3 appliances at the scene and operations expected to continue into the evening2. Firefighters were called to gorse on fire in the White Bridge area of Ballygawley, Co Tyrone at 1.57pm that day, with 4 fire appliances and over 20 firefighters battling a 1 mile fire front2. A yellow warning for wildfires was in place2. The service also said it continued to respond to other emergencies, including a house fire in Newry, a fire in a flat in Belfast, and a call to a potential aircraft incident in Enniskillen where no action was required on arrival2.
"Please stay away from the area where firefighting operations are taking place and avoid hillwalking close to Slieve Bearnagh."
Why it matters for households
The incidents affected upland and rural areas of Counties Down and Tyrone and the Dervock area of County Antrim, with firefighting operations continuing into the evening of 7 April and further operations expected into the evening of 8 April1. NIFRS asked people to avoid the areas where operations were taking place and, on 8 April, to avoid hillwalking close to Slieve Bearnagh1. It asked the public to stay vigilant to the risk of fire in the countryside and to continue to follow its safety advice, and to call 999 immediately if they see a fire1. The warning level for wildfires moved from amber on 7 April to yellow on 8 April1. The cause of the Bloody Bridge fire remained under investigation, and no cause has been reported for the other fires2. The guide to wildfires and grass fires sets out risk and prevention information, and the heatwaves and drought hub covers related conditions.
What happens next
NIFRS said firefighting operations at Slieve Bearnagh were expected to continue into the evening of 8 April2. No further operational updates have been reported.
Wildfires and Grass Fires
