Third of Slieve Beagh damaged in wildfire
NIFRSAbout a third of Slieve Beagh has been damaged due to an ongoing cross-border wildfire, the Northern Ireland Environment Agency has said.
On Friday evening, 50 firefighters with 10 appliances were still at the blaze on the County Tyrone/County Monaghan border, but the fire service said it had largely been contained.
Firefighters are also tackling a gorse fire on the border between County Londonderry and County Donegal.
A warning is in place for wildfires across Northern Ireland this weekend and the fire service has urged the public to stay vigilant.
The Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service (NIFRS) is assisting with the incident in the border village of Killea, County Donegal.
More than 25 firefighters and five pumping appliances have been deployed to the blaze close to Killea reservoir.
The Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service (NIFRS) received a report of a fire in Clogher, County Tyrone on Wednesday, which then spread into County Monaghan on Thursday.
As a special protection area and special area of conservation, Slieve Beagh is home to the endangered hen harrier and intact blanket bog habitat.
The multi-agency response which is led by NIFRS is supported by NIEA and the Forest Service.
All-terrain vehicles with portable pumps have also been deployed to bring the situation under control.
This weekend an amber warning for wildfires has been issued for Northern Ireland.
A yellow warning from the National Hazards Partnership is in place on Friday but this will be upgraded for Saturday, Sunday and Monday.
Dry vegetation and brisker winds conditions create an ideal for wildfires to happen.
The Irish government has issued a condition orange warning for the entire country until noon on Monday.
The warning - the second highest level - signals a significant wildfire threat in all areas with dead grasses, heather and gorse.
What is a special area?
In Northern Ireland, a special area of conservation (SAC) has increased protection under the Conservation Regulations 1995.
The protection is granted if the area contains special habitats or species that are at risk.
It also aims to safeguard biodiversity at both national and international levels.
A special protection area (SPA) is also designated under the Conservation Regulations 1995.
They are important areas for breeding, over-wintering and migrating birds.