Fire at Belfast recycling plant believed to have been started deliberately

Blaze broke out at depot at Duncrue Pass in an industrial estate in north of city

The scene of the fire at Duncrue Pass, Belfast. Photograph:  Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service
The scene of the fire at Duncrue Pass, Belfast. Photograph: Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service

A fire at a Belfast recycling plant is believed by fire services to have been started deliberately.

The blaze, at the depot at Duncrue Pass in an industrial estate in the north of the city, had been brought under control by Monday morning.

Eight fire service pumping appliances, one aerial appliance and one support vehicle attended the fire and worked through from about 10pm on Sunday night to tackle it.

Six appliances and support vehicles remained at the scene on Monday morning.

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Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service (NIFRS) group commander William Johnson said he believes the blaze was started deliberately.

He told the BBC that “good progress” had been made tackling the flames, aided by very little wind in terms of weather conditions.

However, he said there was “still a lot of work to be done due to the integrity of the building and contents of the building”.

He described the part of the site where the fire was as a waste recycling storage area.

“We haven’t made entry into the premises itself so we can’t determine that (cause of the fire) ultimately but currently we believe that it was a deliberate fire,” he said.

The fire service has urged people to avoid the area where possible and advised those living and working nearby to keep their windows closed. – PA