20/04/2009

Careless Day-Trippers Blamed For North Coast Blaze

As the warmer weather begins, a warning over fire risks in the countryside has been issued.

The call comes as an area of natural beauty in north Antrim has been destroyed in a blaze caused - it is thought - by people being careless with a used barbecue.

The news comes as a major heath fire in England at the weekend was said to be one of the worst in years.

The local outbreak destroyed one of the north coast's beauty spots and was said to today to have been started by someone who left a disposable barbecue on grassland.

A large part of the cliff top was destroyed in the blaze at Kenbane Castle between Ballintoy and Ballycastle on Sunday evening.

A spokesman for the NI Fire and Rescue service said a significant section of the cliff-top habitat had been ruined.

He appealed to the public to act more carefully: "The rock is very steep, it is like a ridge. It falls away steeply. For much of the time we were unable to get to the grass without risking firefighters' lives," he said.

He warned people that disposable barbecues are extremely hot and should not be left on grass or on a wooden bench.

The local fire follows one in England that devastated almost one-third of Talbot Heath in Poole.

Fire crews there worked for almost three hours to get the fire under control.

More than 50 firefighters were involved in that emergency.

See: Fire Crews Battle 'Worst' Heath Fire

(BMcC/JM)

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