Suspected arson attack on Dungannon depots

Police and fire crews have attended the scenes of two separate incidents in County Tyrone in the early hours of this morning.

Around 60 fire-fighters were tasked to the fires, at two tyre depots in the Ballygawley Road and Scotch Street areas of Dungannon just before 5am today.

A number of residents living in houses nearby were evacuated from their homes while fire crews attended to the blazes, which are understood to have been expelling poisonous smoke into the air.

A cylinder, which was also present at one location heightened fears of the risk of a possible explosion.

Both depots, which store large quantities of tyres, sustained a significant amount of damage during the incident.

It is not yet known how the fires started, however the fire and rescue service believe that it may have been started deliberately.

A spokesperson from the Fire Service said that the fact that the blazes broke out around the same time, indicates the possibility of arson.

An investigation is underway to establish the circumstances surrounding the cause of the fires.

(EF)