Fires Endanger Communities

Amid news of several malicious fires across the Province, a warning has been issued over anti-social behaviour in east Belfast.

Following an overnight blaze in a block of residential flats, DUP Councillor and MLA Robin Newton said that it was only "by the Grace of God that the fire on the 10th floor of the NIHE apartment block did not result in a loss of life".

Two men were taken to hospital as a result of the blaze and around 30 people had to be evacuated during the incident.

The fire was at Calarawood House, a 14-storey high-rise block of flats that has received significant investment by the NIHE over recent years, including the employment of security personnel.

Robin Newton said: "A fire on the 10th floor will raise suspicions with other residents.

"This incident must be fully investigated and tenants given all the necessary information to provide them with reassurances."

He said that while it is not the most popular housing in the east of the city, it is occupied by many decent people who have resided in the block for many years.

"It also has a high turnover of young tenants with the behaviour of some tenants being discussed at the monthly meetings of the tenants association and reports made to the NIHE," he said, noting that the police are frequently called to the building as a result of parties and disturbances.

Meanwhile, on the same weekend as fire fighters have been kept busy tackling a malicious blaze in empty building in Co Londonderry - which the fire service says is endangering the lives of those responsible - fire officers have again come under attack tackling similar outbreaks in Co Antrim.

In Ballymena, crews were targeted for the fourth night in a row while attending an incident.

The crew was called out to a false alarm at derelict flats in the Dunclug estate on Friday evening when they were attacked.

The fire service said it was the latest in a series of such incidents at the flats that have been only recently vacated.

Things were so bad that the windscreen of the fire engine was smashed, putting it out of action for over two hours.

The firefighters were ambushed by a gang of youths who faked an emergency call to lure them into a trap.

The crew were then pelted with stones and rocks by the gang near a block of derelict flats just after 11pm on Friday.

Bobby Harper of the Fire and Rescue Service said the attack "was clearly orchestrated".

"What they do is set a fire then wait in the alleyways until we approach and then they attack us with missiles," he said.

"We hope to be talking to local community representatives and hope to solve this problem.

"These people are attacking the community when they attack the fire services or emergency services," he said.

In Co Derry, the NI Housing Executive is now planning to close off the fire-hit vacant flats that were set on fire at the weekend, and is awaiting government approval for their demolition.

The move comes after firefighters tackled the blaze at what are in fact former army houses in Londonderry's Waterside area.

Five appliances attended the scene in Clooney Park West, where the row of derelict properties was set on fire.

Trevor Ferguson, of the NI Fire and Rescue Service, said it is not the first time the buildings have been targeted: "My concern would be people are in the vicinity of these buildings and some, perhaps, inside them lighting and setting these fires," he said.

"The potential's here for people to be seriously injured or indeed lose their lives."

(BMcC)