NIFRS to hold large scale emergency training exercise in Glens and Ballycastle

“Exercise Forest Flame” will be the largest live multi - agency wildland fire training exercise ever held in Northern Ireland.

NIFRS wants to reassure the public that they should not be alarmed if they see a heightened emergency presence in their local area as this is a fully pre-planned public safety enhancing training exercise. The purpose of the exercise is to test our own operational response, procedures and resilience to deal with uncontrolled wildfires over a large geographical area for a prolonged period of time and interagency partnership working.

The public can be assured that emergency Fire & Rescue cover in the area will not be affected and roads in the area will remain open at all times.

“Exercise Forest Flame’’ will simulate a major wildfire incident and will run continuously from 6am to 12noon involving over 200 people from a wide range of agencies. The public can expect significant emergency activity in the following areas:

Northern Area Command- Greenan Ballycastle, Croaghan Glendun and Glenariff Forest Park, Co. Antrim.

NIFRS wants to thank the public in advance of this major exercise for their co-operation and will endeavour to keep disruption to the public at a minimum.