A senior fire officer has dismissed claims Derry was left without “five cover” during a major incident in the city last night.
The scene of the fire at St Peter’s Highschool last night.
by John Gill, editor
Mark Smyth, assistant area commander at the Northern Ireland Fire Service, was speaking after 50 firefighters tackled the blaze at the former St Peter’s High School at Foyle Hill on the edge of the Creggan Estate.
Fire crews from Strabane and Limavady were brought in to assist local firefighters who were first to arrive at the scene shortly after 8.30pm. It took three hours to bring the blaze under control and, after securing the site, the emergency services withdrew from the scene five hours later at 1.30am.
An emergency ambulance crew were also at the scene.
Speaking earlier this morning, Commander Smyth, who is based at Crescent Link fire station in the Waterside, dismissed claims there was “no five cover” in the city during the incident.
He revealed firefighters were brought in from Castlederg and Dungiven to provide “cover” for the city while the local crews attended the Foyle Hill incident, which he said was being treated as “a deliberate ignition”
During the incident, 16 firefighters carried out an extensive search of the building. Wearing breathing apparatus and assisted by search lights, they carried out a room-room-search search after they were alerted to the possibility of children being in the building as a result of being overcome by smoke.
However, the concerns were unfounded. Coammander Smith confirmed no one was injured during the incident and revealed an ambulance was at the scene “in case” anyone found in the blazing building would have needed emergency treatment.
It is understood forensic teams will visit the scene tomorrow morning to determine how exactly the fire started.
Local people a have renewed calls for the building to be tumbled. In is the second time arsonists have targeted the disused school since principal Martin Bowen closed the gates on the last day of the school term at the end of June last.
Angry residents claim the building is a “meeting point” for young people engaging in anti-social behaviour.
A former mayor of the city is backing the calls by local residents to have the building demolished.
Cllr Kevin Campbell, Sinn Fein representative for the Creggan area, has called on Apex Housing, who are seeking planning permission to build 27 homes on the site, to act before someone was killed.
It was a busy night for firefighters in the city. Less than four hours after returning from the Foyle Hill incident, they were called at 4.00am to deal with another arson attack just yards from Northland Road fire station
Four crews attended the blaze at a large unoccupied house at the junction of Academy and Northland Roads. Extensive damage was caused to the roof at the rear of the building which is not visible to the public.
No one was injured in the incident, however, Commander Smyth revealed water damage was caused to several adjoining properties
A forensic investigation has got under way as to what caused the fire.
Police have called on anyone with information about those involvedabout both incidents, which are not believed to be link, to get in touch with them
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