Amber Wildfire Warning

19 March 2025 17:25

The Natural Hazards Partnership has upgraded its wildfire warning to Amber for Wednesday to Sunday.

NI Water is therefore reissuing its appeal to the public to be aware of the potential dangers of littering, using disposable BBQs and burning waste.

Wildfires pose a risk to human life, wildlife, property and the environment, and also to drinking water catchment areas.

NI Water Catchment Liaison Officer Rebecca Allen said: “Fine dry weather is forecast for the rest of this week and the Natural Hazards Partnership are saying a stronger breeze on Friday will bring an increased risk for potential wildfires to spread.

“If you see someone deliberately setting fires, report it to the PSNI immediately as it is a criminal offence.”

Rebecca’s top tips to enjoy the outdoors responsibly to reduce the risk of wildfires:

• Do not light fires in and around forests or open land
• Do not attempt to intervene or fight fires under any circumstances;
• If you see a fire, gather all family/group members and move to a safe fuel-free location such as a car park, upwind of the fire
• Telephone the NI Fire and Rescue Service on 999 and report the fire and its location
• Evacuate if instructed to do so, and cooperate with all Emergency Service Instructions
• If you see someone deliberately setting fires, report it to the PSNI immediately as it is a criminal offence

Some friendly advice when enjoying your time in the countryside:

• Leave no trace; please take your rubbish with you
• Never fly-tip waste material
• Extinguish cigarettes and other flammable materials properly
• Never throw cigarette ends out of car windows
• Avoid using open fires

Ends

Notes to editors

• A water catchment is where water is collected by the natural landscape into rivers, lakes and streams.  NI Water control two drinking water catchments supplying water to all of Northern Ireland. NI Water’s work includes dealing with many catchment issues, including the risk and problem of wildfires, and NI Water can assure customers that our tap water quality is always of a very high quality.
• Wildfires not only pose a terrible risk to all life but also removes the primary layer of vegetation, leaving the burned bare soil exposed to erosion which then makes its way into the reservoirs which is treated to become our drinking water.  This material requires a lot of resource and expertise to remove at treatment. Wildfires can also have a devastating impact on habitats and wildlife, destroying birds and animals homes and special habitat features.

Media enquiries to the NI Water Press Office via email to press.office@niwater.com