WATER RELIEF AS OUR
Air Corps tackles mountain blaze
THE Irish Air Corps has been called in by UK authorities to help fight a wildfire in the North.
The blaze is raging on Slieve Gullion mountain on the Ballentemple Road in South Armagh.
Defence Minister Paul Kehoe confirmed approval was given for
Air Corps involvement following a request from the Northern Ireland
Fire and Rescue Service.
The TD said: “This deployment is the latest example of how our Defence Forces and Air Corps are assisting other agencies to ensure communities are kept safe.”
The Air Corps despatched a AW139 helicopter and an EC135 aircraft to the scene. One of the aircraft has helped douse flames with buckets of water because of the “deep-seated nature of the gorse fire” while the other has acted as an observation point. NIFRS group commander Geoff Somerville said they “have made a significant impact down to the use of the helicopters”.
He added: “The bucket contains 1,200 litres of water and they have just done a lift from Camlough Lake and maybe 20 throughout the day.
“They are going back every so often to refuel at Dundalk.
“The fire is ongoing. It’s an extensive area. There is no property in the immediate vicinity.”
Mr Somerville said the NIFRS has used Irish aircrafts in rescue efforts before, but this is “the first time they’ve been used for fire fighting operations”.