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Arson suspected in building fires Building fires 'were deliberate'
(about 2 hours later)
Fires in two separate buildings in Belfast are being treated as suspicious, the Fire and Rescue Service has said. Fires in two separate buildings in Belfast were started deliberately, the Fire and Rescue Service has said.
Twenty four firefighters were called out to the blazes which began at about 1930 GMT on Thursday in Corporation Square. More than 20 firefighters were called out to the blazes which began at about 1930 GMT on Thursday.
An office block next to one of the buildings had to be evacuated. An office block next to one of the buildings in Corporation Squarehad to be evacuated. One of the roofs is thought to have contained asbestos.
Lenny Entwhistle from the Fire and Rescue Service said the buildings had been left in a dangerous condition.Lenny Entwhistle from the Fire and Rescue Service said the buildings had been left in a dangerous condition.
"One of them will possibly have to be demolished," he said. "Both fires started simultaneously and it would be very unusual to have an accidental fire start in two buildings at the same time, so we are following a definite line of inquiry of arson.
"Both fires started simultaneously and it would be very unusual to have an accidental fire start in two buildings at the same time, so we are following a definite line of inquiry of arson." "The fires were in buildings adjacent to the Sealink terminals.
"It appears that the Department of Agriculture owns the buildings and they are used as stores for another commercial store."
'Extremely difficult fire'
He said the fires were well-developed by the time firefighters arrived.
"One building which is extensively damaged, and may have to come down, had an asbestos-type roof.
"That hampered our firefighting operations. It is very dangerous, and normally we don't realise it is asbestos or a hazardous material until we are well into our operations."
He added: "The second fire was an extremely difficult fire as well, as it was attached to a city centre office block.
"Crews had to enter that building using breathing apparatus and battle through the intense heat to stop fire spread."
The police said they had now begun an investigation into both fires.