McDonald hits out at ‘mindless vandalism’ after deliberate fire at Cullybackey River Walk

The large, mature tree deliberately set on fire in Cullybackey.

A deliberate fire at Cullybackey River Walk has drawn sharp criticism from a local councillor after emergency crews were called out to tackle what has been described as a reckless act of vandalism.

Firefighters were dispatched to the scene in Cullybackey village, Ballymena, on Wednesday evening, April 29, after reports of a tree on fire in the area.

The incident, which required a response from Ballymena Fire Station, has sparked concern about the wider impact such actions can have on emergency service availability.

Emergency response to deliberate fire

According to the Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service, the call was received at 7.22pm, with one appliance attending the scene.

Firefighters successfully extinguished the blaze, with the incident brought under control by 8.03pm.

The cause of the fire is believed to be deliberate ignition.

Warning over pressure on emergency services

TUV Bannside Alderman Stewart McDonald strongly condemned the incident, warning that such behaviour risks diverting vital emergency resources away from genuine life-threatening situations.

He said:

“I am appalled that on Wednesday evening the Fire Service had to attend an incident at Cullybackey River Walk after a tree was deliberately set on fire.

“Quite apart from the damage caused, reckless acts like this tie up important resources. None of us know when we will require the emergency services.

“The thought that a house fire could have broken our or someone would have needed cut from a car after accident only for resources not to be available because they were dealing with mindless vandalism of this nature is sickening.

“I would appeal for people to wise up and think of how they would feel if there was a delayed response to an emergency involving one of their loved ones because of this sort of carry on.”

Concerns over ongoing anti-social behaviour

The incident has added to ongoing concerns about anti-social behaviour in public spaces, particularly where deliberate acts place both property and public safety at risk.

While no injuries were reported, the event has highlighted how even relatively small-scale fires can escalate into more serious incidents if not dealt with quickly.

The fire was contained before further damage occurred, but the circumstances surrounding the deliberate ignition have prompted renewed calls for greater responsibility and awareness within the community.

The incident serves as a stark reminder that actions perceived as minor vandalism can have far-reaching consequences, particularly when they divert emergency services from potentially life-saving duties elsewhere.

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At a glance

• Firefighters attended a deliberate tree fire at Cullybackey River Walk on April 29

• Call received at 7.22pm, with one appliance from Ballymena Fire Station deployed

• Fire extinguished and incident dealt with by 8.03pm

• Cause believed to be deliberate ignition

• Alderman Stewart McDonald condemned the incident as “mindless vandalism”

• Warning issued over impact on emergency service availability