A Co Armagh GAA club has called on the young people within the community to stop lighting fires in and around its ground.
Éire Óg in Craigavon made the call after police and the Fire Service were called to two young males using aerosols to start fires behind a set of goal posts on Sunday night.
It is the sixth incident of a similar nature in recent weeks.
A statement released by the club said: “We are calling on young people in our community to stop lighting fires in and around our GAA club grounds and the wider Craigavon area.
“Fires, no matter how small, are extremely dangerous. They risk lives, damage property, harm the environment, and place unnecessary strain on emergency services.
“Our club grounds are a shared space, built through years of volunteer work, fundraising and community spirit.
“Every act of vandalism is a blow to the entire community who use and support this space.
“Tonight [Sunday], the PSNI and Fire Service had to respond after two young individuals used aerosols to start fires behind the top goals, the second fire on our grounds today, and the sixth in recent weeks.
“Sadly, this is part of a worrying trend across the Craigavon area.
“We believe most young people respect their community. That’s why we’re appealing directly to you: please stop! Help us protect what belongs to all of us.
“To parents and guardians — we ask you to speak with your children about the real risks and consequences of this behaviour. Let’s work together to keep our club and community safe.
Meanwhile, NI Water has introduced a temporary ban on the lighting of barbeques or open fires across its publicly accessible sites with immediate effect.
The decision comes after the Natural Hazards Partnership announced an amber wildfire risk for last week, dissipating yesterday but increasing again to amber from today.
The Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service (NIFRS) spent two weeks battling hundreds of wildfires across Northern Ireland during a spell of good weather last month.
