Sky Watch NI and Wildland Fires 2018

Sky Watch NI have spent the first half of July working with the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service. 

It all started on the 26th June when we were tasked by the fire service to attend a wild land fire close to the Glenshane pass which had been going for a few days. We worked closely with the fire service, Forestry service  and Rescue 116 the Coastguard Helicopter.

 

 

 

 

A few pictures of Rescue 116 on scene with Sky Watch NI

Call number two came a week later this was to a peat bog outside  Rasharkin on 4th July.  We could see the smoke from miles back as we drove to the incident,  The fire was smoldering more than flames but as daylight subsided the flames intensified.  
Due to the long duration of this incident the Sky Watch NI team worked in shifts, this was the first time we had to deploy a shift pattern.  The evening shift got this impressive image.  We were at Rasharkin for two days.  By the evening of day 2 the fire was well under control.


Our third call out found us at the South Eastern part of the country. We were once again deployed but this time to Meigh. We liaised with the Incident commander to discuss the concerns.We were were on scene for two days. While dealing with the main fire we could see plumes of smoke from other sites in the distance.

 

 

We spent the day videoing the fire spreading through the tree line and thanks to Mourne Heritage Trust for ferrying us and our kit around. Properties were safe and we were eventually stood down.Little did we know we would be back the next day.

Day one we were listening to the trees burning they were going off like a match that had just been struck.

Please visit our Facebook page we have several videos for you to see


Day two the Irish Army Air Corps were called in to help with the fire. They brought a 1200 litre Bambi bucket and two helicopters this enabled them to dowse the fire with water from the nearby Camlough Lake.We worked closely with the helicopter crews and this is not the first occasion we have had to share airspace with a full sized aircraft.

Tractor Run in aid of Sky Watch (NI)-25th March

Sky Watch (NI) are holding a Tractor Run on Saturday 25th March 2017 to raise funds for training and equipment for their Search Unit.  The gates open at 1200 and all are welcome to attend.  The tractors will be setting of at 2pm and the run will last for approximately one hour returning to Lilburn’s Farm.

Entry is £10 per tractor and passengers are £5

Entry includes a £2 token to use at the catering van and one ticket for the raffle.

Entrance forms are completed on arrival.

Social Media channels are now live!

Screenshot of Facebook pageOur social media channels are now set up and available to connect on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Google+ and Pinterest.

As you can see we are also on our new website which includes a few cool toys for flying enthusiasts, UAV / ROV information and most importantly how you can assist Sky Watch Northern Ireland with our endeavours to provide aerial and remote vehicle support to the local community.

If you would like to support us in non-financial ways you can volunteer with us, add links to your websites and blogs and spread the word about us on social media so please have a look around our new website and join us on our social media channels.