As spring has sprung and the weather is becoming warmer, NI Water is reminding visitors to mountain areas, particularly Silent Valley, that there is a real risk of landscape fires.
Landscape fires can happen easily, especially in the mountains where vegetation can be dry and can catch fire and spread to underlying peat quickly. These types of fires are difficult to manage and are extremely challenging for the NI Fire and Rescue Service.
A landscape fire inside Silent Valley in April 2025 burned over 5km2 of special habitat and was started accidentally by people visiting the area.
NI Water’s Catchment Liaison Officer explains further: “Landscape fires not only pose a risk to human life, wildlife, property and the environment, but also to our drinking water catchment areas.”
Some Do’s and Don’ts when in these areas during warm, dry weather:
- Please do not set campfires on open ground or use disposal BBQs
- 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 setting fires, report it to the PSNI immediately
NI Water’s Catchment Liaison Officer continues: “A water catchment is where water is collected by the natural landscape into rivers, lakes and streams. NI Water control 24 drinking water catchments supplying water to all of Northern Ireland. NI Water always works hard to deal with the problem of landscape fires and we can assure customers that tap water quality is unaffected and is of a very high quality.
“However, landscape fires within these areas not only pose a terrible risk to all life but 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. These fires can also have a devastating impact on habitats and wildlife. Visitors are therefore reminded to look out for signage at entrance points to Silent Valley indicating if a yellow, amber or red warning has been issued in line with relevant weather warnings.”
The public are reminded that deliberate setting of fires is a criminal offence and if you see anyone setting a fire you should call the PSNI immediately.
If you are in the countryside:
- Leave no trace; take your rubbish with you and dispose of BBQs appropriately
- 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
Media enquiries to the NI Water Press Office via email to press.office@niwater.com
