The Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service (NIFRS) attended 2,231 gorse fires in 2017 at an estimated cost of over £500,000, according to a consultation document published on Tuesday.

“Fighting wildfires is resource intensive and could potentially impact on the ability of the NIFRS to respond to other serious incidents. Up to eight fire appliances were required to attend some of the 2017 wildfire incidents,” the consultation from DAERA and the Department for Justice reads.

The two departments are seeking views on a strategy to reduce the number of wildfires occurring in NI. They also want views on how to reduce the effect on the environment and communities when incidents do occur.

DAERA and the Department for Justice state that the majority of wildfires in NI are started deliberately and, between 2005 and 2010, £35m was spent fighting these fires in NI.

In 2017 ,a number of wildfire incidents in Northern Ireland were investigated as part of Operation Wildfire, which was jointly launched between the Police Service of Northern Ireland, the Northern Ireland Environment Agency and NIFRS.

DAERA and the Department for Justice’s consultation is an online survey and is open to responses until 16 March 2018.

Thousands of hectares burn as wildfires rage

'Deliberate' fires blamed for trail of destruction

More than 2,200 gorse fires reported in NI last year

A consultation has been launched by two Government departments on how to reduce the threat of wildfires in Northern Ireland.