21 May 2026
SDLP Opposition Health Spokesperson Colin McGrath MLA has said the revelation that responding to so-called “wildfires” is costing millions of pounds should shock the public and act as a wake-up call about the scale of the pressure being placed on the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service.
Speaking after today’s Health Committee session at Stormont, where Chief Fire Officer Aidan Jennings confirmed the cost of dealing with these fires is running into the millions, Mr McGrath said the financial impact on frontline services could not be ignored.
South Down MLA Colin McGrath said:
“Today’s evidence to the Health Committee was deeply concerning. While we still do not have the final overall figure, it is now clear that responding to these fires is costing millions of pounds. At a time when every public service is under pressure, that level of spending is staggering. This is money being diverted into dealing with incidents that are, in many cases, deliberate and entirely avoidable.
“These fires are not only devastating local environments and threatening communities, they are placing a major operational and financial strain on the Fire and Rescue Service right across Northern Ireland. Many firefighters are part-time and on-call workers, yet crews are repeatedly being pulled from other duties to respond to these incidents. That has consequences for the wider service and for communities who rely on emergency cover.
“We also need to move away from the term ‘wildfire’. That language gives the impression these incidents are natural occurrences beyond anyone’s control. The reality is that many are deliberate and manmade. People need to understand the true cost of this behaviour, not just environmentally, but financially and operationally. Millions of pounds are being swallowed up responding to these fires while our health and emergency services are already stretched.”