Huge gorse fires which overlapped last week in two counties stretched the resources of the NI Fire and Rescue Service to the limit, with crews and ten appliances having to be diverted from a major outbreak in Corrigan Forest in the Derrygonnelly area to Effernan, between Kilskeery and Tempo on the Fermanagh/Tyrone border.
There were no casualties at either venue, either amongst firefighters or residents, although only one dwelling was in any danger in the Effernan blaze. There, fire crews, under the direction of Jim McClintock, the Station Commander at Enniskillen, managed to fight back the flames from getting near the dwelling house and, also, a shed containing rally cars.
But, the blaze was enduring. It was first spotted on Wednesday evening and fire crews who had left and then been called back, were still there around lunchtime the next day. Even as late as Thursday evening, a burnt-out car was still smouldering. It is not known if this was an abandoned vehicle.
Mr McClintock told the 'Herald' that the first major alert was logged at 10.30 on Wednesday morning to Corrigan Forest.
"As you know, this is a massive forest which backs on to Ballintempo. We had ten appliances fighting the fire and, while we were there we got the call to go attend a gorse fire between Kilskeery and Tempo.
"We had just got back into town when we were called out to attend a further outbreak, so it was about 2.30 on Thursday morning that they were able to leave for home. Dealing with a gorse fire is very dangerous because once you put out the fire, it can suddenly start up again, and underfoot conditions are not good.
"So, you have to risk assess as you go along. If it's only gorse, we would stay and watch, but if the fire was getting to property or livestock, you have to take action. For instance, we got a call out on Tuesday night to Noon's Hole, an area full of caves and swallow holes, so you wouldn't commit men to a situation like that but, if there is property at risk, you would have to".
In the case of the gorse fire at Effernan, a dwelling house and a shed lay in the path of the fire, so Mr McClintock's crews fought the fire at that end.
"We drove the fire back to protect the property", he explained, "and then went ahead and extinguished the fire. The gorse is so thick with the Spring rains, so a fire can visually block off the area".
Mr McClintock reported that things had settled down generally by Thursday, although he was expecting things to be a lot busier.
One young visitor told the 'Herald' how a family member had raised the alarm when the fire at Effernan broke out.
"It was about 9 o'clock on Wednesday night. She was driving over the mountain road between Tempo and Kilskeery. She could see the smoke and the flames going across the road. It was that bad at that stage.
"She rang home and her mother looked out and saw the fire around the house that lay in the path of the blaze, and her father then phoned the Fire Brigade who told him they had been given inadequate directions, so he gave them the proper directions.
"When I went up to have a look, there were four appliances there. They were trying to put out the fire but they weren't getting anywhere. They then moved around to the rear of the house. The wind was blowing the flames towards the house and the river at that stage, but they were a good bit away from the house.
"This was about 12.30 on Thursday morning. We went up the whole way up the mountain, and we could see it very clearly. It was a huge fire. They must have been able to drive it back, but there were massive blazes everywhere else. The firefighters did a brilliant job, they made sure to stop the fire from getting near the house".
