27/05/2008

Fires Deliberate

Firefighters have been kept busy over the last few days - most recently tackling a fire overnight at the former Nestle factory on the outskirts of Omagh.

It is thought the fire, in which a large quantity of wood chip pellets were burned, may have been started deliberately.

At its height almost 40 firefighters battled against the blaze on the Beltany Road, which was reported at 5pm on Monday.

An investigation into what happened is under way.

Meanwhile, a fire, which destroyed five acres of forest near Londonderry, has been declared as deliberately set, the Fire and Rescue Service has said.

About 50 firefighters spent hours tackling the blaze in woodland at Killaloo, off the Gulf Road.

Fifteen acres of gorse and heather were also destroyed, but the fire was prevented from spreading to a much larger forest.

Fire Service commander Willie Lynch said they were hampered by the weather.

"The trees there are about 30ft high, and the gorse has been growing there for a number of years and is about two feet high," he said.

Another blaze has also been identified as arson.

The sports hall of the Boys' Model school on the Ballysillan Road in north Belfast was extensively damaged in the attack, which was reported on Sunday afternoon.

While the hall was set to be demolished during refurbishment work, exams were due to begin there today (Tuesday).

School principal Jim Keith said examination papers had been lost in the fire: "We lost all of the equipment in the games hall, which was quite extensive," he said.

However, he noted: "The school had not been targeted in over 20 years so I just presume it is because it is a building site and it has attracted people who would not normally come here. It does concern me about the future."

The school has just embarked on a £22m refurbishment programme.

In a separate incident, a man had to be rescued from a fire at his home in Glenside Road in Londonderry on Sunday.

He fell asleep after leaving the cooker on, and was later treated for the effects of breathing in smoke.

(BMcC)

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