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20/02/2009
Fire Guts Warehouse
Parts of south Belfast came to a standstill last night as a large fire almost destroyed a warehouse in the university area.
Fire crews battled the blaze (pictures here by Adam McCalden) which badly damaged the building in Essex Street, just off University Street. The building is close to a bar but fire-fighters managed to stop the blaze from spreading and no-one has been hurt.
The alert began at around 5.15pm when local mechanics from a neighbouring building, ICM brake specialists, noticed smoke coming from the warehouse building.
It took six fire engines and three fire officer cars to get the blaze under control and University Avenue was also closed to traffic and the public.
Traffic was disrupted when the street was blocked off, with tailbacks stretching along the Ormeau Road for some time.
Mechanic Patrick McBride told the Belfast Telegraph: "Just after five we saw smoke outside and realised that it was coming from the building next door.
"We kicked the door in and saw that it was huge. The whole stairway in the building and most of the ground floor was covered.
"Our boss then rang the Fire Brigade and we got out the way."
Daniel Park, Manager of ICM, added: "The building is right beside us with just a partition wall. We wondered what was wrong when our lights flickered and then smoke began bellowing out of the building," he said.
Last night, traffic was disrupted when the street was blocked off, with tailbacks stretching along the Ormeau Road for some time.
Traffic has now returned to normal.
(BMcC/JM)
Fire crews battled the blaze (pictures here by Adam McCalden) which badly damaged the building in Essex Street, just off University Street. The building is close to a bar but fire-fighters managed to stop the blaze from spreading and no-one has been hurt.
The alert began at around 5.15pm when local mechanics from a neighbouring building, ICM brake specialists, noticed smoke coming from the warehouse building.
It took six fire engines and three fire officer cars to get the blaze under control and University Avenue was also closed to traffic and the public.
Traffic was disrupted when the street was blocked off, with tailbacks stretching along the Ormeau Road for some time.
Mechanic Patrick McBride told the Belfast Telegraph: "Just after five we saw smoke outside and realised that it was coming from the building next door.
"We kicked the door in and saw that it was huge. The whole stairway in the building and most of the ground floor was covered.
"Our boss then rang the Fire Brigade and we got out the way."
Daniel Park, Manager of ICM, added: "The building is right beside us with just a partition wall. We wondered what was wrong when our lights flickered and then smoke began bellowing out of the building," he said.
Last night, traffic was disrupted when the street was blocked off, with tailbacks stretching along the Ormeau Road for some time.
Traffic has now returned to normal.
(BMcC/JM)
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