By Iveren McCallion
Firefighters in the southern area have dealt with 245 gorse fires in the past week.
That's more than half the of those attended across Northern Ireland.
The Fire Service says Downpatrick station dealt with 46 blazes since 1st May, with all but one started deliberately.
All the gorse fires they were called out to in Ballynahinch, Kilkeel, Crossmaglen, Keady and Rathfriland were arson.
And in Newry firefighters have tackled 23 gorse blazes in the past week, 22 were started deliberately.
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