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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Building fires 'were deliberate' | Building fires 'were deliberate' |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| Fires in two separate buildings in Belfast were started deliberately, the Fire and Rescue Service has said. | Fires in two separate buildings in Belfast were started deliberately, the Fire and Rescue Service has said. |
| More than 20 firefighters were called out to the blazes which began at about 1930 GMT on Thursday. | 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 in Corporation Square had to be evacuated. One of the roofs is thought to have contained asbestos. | An office block next to one of the buildings in Corporation Square had to be evacuated. One of the roofs is thought to have contained asbestos. |
| The buildings were former offices of the Department of Agriculture and were unoccupied. | |
| 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. |
| "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. | "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." | "It appears that the Department of Agriculture owns the buildings and they are used as stores for another commercial store." |
| 'Extremely difficult fire' | 'Extremely difficult fire' |
| He said the fires were well-developed by the time firefighters arrived. | 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. | "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." | "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. | 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." | "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. | The police said they had now begun an investigation into both fires. |