Lurgan blaze 'may have been deliberate' - NIFRS
The NIFRS has said that a blaze in Lurgan in the early hours of Sunday may have been started deliberately.
Last updated 26th Nov 2017
Crews were called to the scene after eports of a bin being set on fire at around 4.20am.
Max Joyce, Group Commander with the NIFRS said: "The only indication at the moment is that we think this was a deliberate act.
"Everything else in the building was isolated, so we believe it was deliberate.
"The property itself was in a row of properties, quite old buildings.
"They had a very complex layout with dried timber and voids, so the fire itself spread remarkably quickly through the building."
The blaze broke out close to the office of DUP MLA Carla Lockhart. After speaking with the Police and Fire and Rescue Service she said, “I want to thank the Fire Service for their swift action in getting the blaze under control.
"As well as being a commercial area there are people living in flats above some of these shops and if the fire had spread, it could have been a serious risk to life.
"The road has been closed to motorists whilst this is ongoing. I have been liaising with the PSNI who are aware of the number of church services about to take place in that area.
"They are working to ensure that these will be accommodated and will reopen the road when the area is safe.
"Once again I want to thank both the Fire Service and PSNI for their quick and professional actions during this incident."