Police investigating fire at waste recycling plant in north Belfast

Q Radio News/PA

Police are investigating suspected arson following a fire at a waste recycling plant in Belfast.

Crews from Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service (NIFRS) attended the scene of the incident at Bailey Waste Ltd, Limestone Road, Belfast, on Monday evening.

Six fire trucks and 46 firefighters were deployed to fight the blaze, which has been brought under control, while members of the PSNI also attended the scene.

Nobody was injured in the attack but it is feared that up to £16,000 of damage was done at the facility.

🎥 Breaking: NIFRS - “We are currently in attendance at a large fire at Baileys Waste LTD, Limestone Road, north Belfast. There is a large smoke plume and we would ask that residents on Limestone Road, Glencollyer Street and Mileriver Street keep their windows and doors closed.” pic.twitter.com/AwaWQnAWu4

— Q Radio News (@qnewsdesk) July 5, 2021

Director Paddy McBride told the PA news agency: “It’s devastating.

“Luckily enough we have no structural damage or machinery damage, it’s only material damage.

“We have about £16,000 worth of material damage.

“Nobody was hurt though. I don’t care about that as long as nobody was hurt, that’s the big thing. I had five lads on the site and it could have been them.

“If they hadn’t seen it, somebody could have been burnt.”

Mr McBride said that there are 10 employees working on the site, who are “very shaken up” by the events.

“Two of the lads here were crying. The lads are just doing a day’s work and for this to happen. There’s no need for it to happen” he said.

Help in tackling the blaze came from staff at a nearby tractor dealership, Tractormatic, who arrived to assist with a mechanical digger.

Mr McBride said: “I have to say fair play to McCann’s beside us, the Massey dealers.

“They came up with a big digger and to dig a fire break, and it stopped it spreading, it kept it squared off in an area. The fire is under control now, it’s only smouldering. We just have to dig out stuff. Everything is 100%.”

He added that there were no problems with the machinery on site that could have caused the blaze.

It is understood the PSNI is examining CCTV footage and that foul play is suspected.

The fire began when large quantities of waste paper caught fire, resulting in a large smoke cloud towering high above the local area.

People have been asked to avoid the area.

Flames threatened Currie Primary School, Limestone Road, north Belfast during a fire at a recycling centre on Monday afternoon. Smoke could be seen across the city. Firefighters battled to bring the outbreak under control as windows cracked with the heat of the blaze.

Pic: Alan Lewis