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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Overnight fire at primary school | Overnight fire at primary school |
| (11 minutes later) | |
| A County Antrim primary school has been badly damaged in an overnight fire. | A County Antrim primary school has been badly damaged in an overnight fire. |
| When crews arrived at Whitehouse Primary School in Newtownabbey shortly after 0230 BST a number of different areas of the school were alight. | When crews arrived at Whitehouse Primary School in Newtownabbey shortly after 0230 BST a number of different areas of the school were alight. |
| Nearby homes had to be evacuated for a time as strong winds fanned flames towards the properties. | |
| Approximately 70 firefighters and over 20 appliances were in attendance. It is believed the fire was started deliberately. | |
| Chris Kerr of the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service said "75% of the main school building was severely damaged". | |
| "Such was the strength of the wind and the ferocity of the blaze that fire was spreading through trees and large amounts of burning embers were falling on property around the area," he continued. | |
| "We had to ask the police to evacuate some residents for their safety. | "We had to ask the police to evacuate some residents for their safety. |
| "Sadly, the early indications are that this fire has been deliberate." | "Sadly, the early indications are that this fire has been deliberate." |