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Families flee homes in gorse fire Families flee homes in gorse fire
(about 10 hours later)
Families were forced to flee nine homes overnight as 50 firefighters tackled a gorse fire in County Antrim.Families were forced to flee nine homes overnight as 50 firefighters tackled a gorse fire in County Antrim.
The fire was started deliberately in Whitehead close to Marine Parade. It is still burning. A police investigation is under way.The fire was started deliberately in Whitehead close to Marine Parade. It is still burning. A police investigation is under way.
Nine fire appliances helped tackle it and houses at Quay Lane were evacuated. Some were just 35 metres from the fire.Nine fire appliances helped tackle it and houses at Quay Lane were evacuated. Some were just 35 metres from the fire.
As crews tackled the blaze, they picked up thermal imaging pictures of people setting even more fires alight.As crews tackled the blaze, they picked up thermal imaging pictures of people setting even more fires alight.
Thomas McCombe who lives in the area said he was horrified by what had happened.Thomas McCombe who lives in the area said he was horrified by what had happened.
"There's five people living next door to me. Then, there is my wife and I. We all could have been burned to death. How could somebody come and set a fire alight and run away from it? I am dumbfounded by the mess and destruction," he said."There's five people living next door to me. Then, there is my wife and I. We all could have been burned to death. How could somebody come and set a fire alight and run away from it? I am dumbfounded by the mess and destruction," he said.
Mr McCombe said he heard three young people running past his house at 2200GMT on Monday.Mr McCombe said he heard three young people running past his house at 2200GMT on Monday.
The flames were about 25ft or 30 ft away from the houses, we were all evacuated last night. It was just a disaster, a total disaster Thomas McCombe Thomas McCombe, who lives in the area, said he was horrified by what had happened.
He followed them up the hill and turned around to see the fire.He followed them up the hill and turned around to see the fire.
"The hill was a total and utter blaze. Only for the quick reaction of the Northern Ireland Fire Service and the police, I don't know what would have happened."The hill was a total and utter blaze. Only for the quick reaction of the Northern Ireland Fire Service and the police, I don't know what would have happened.
"Old people live down here. .. a lady on a zimmer frame and a lady with brittle bone disease. The flames were about 25ft or 30ft away from the houses. We were all evacuated last night. It was just a disaster, a total disaster.""Old people live down here. .. a lady on a zimmer frame and a lady with brittle bone disease. The flames were about 25ft or 30ft away from the houses. We were all evacuated last night. It was just a disaster, a total disaster."
'Deliberate''Deliberate'
Mark Beresford from the Fire and Rescue Service said there were "good indications" that the fires were started deliberately.Mark Beresford from the Fire and Rescue Service said there were "good indications" that the fires were started deliberately.
"This was putting lives in danger, not only ourselves, but members of the public," he said."This was putting lives in danger, not only ourselves, but members of the public," he said.
Mr Beresford, assistant group commander with the service said that, from the Fire and Rescue control point, using thermal imaging, they could pick up pictures of people setting even more fires.Mr Beresford, assistant group commander with the service said that, from the Fire and Rescue control point, using thermal imaging, they could pick up pictures of people setting even more fires.
Tackling the fire was extremely hazardous because of the rough terrain where the fire was burning, close to the main Larne to Belfast railway line.Tackling the fire was extremely hazardous because of the rough terrain where the fire was burning, close to the main Larne to Belfast railway line.
The main road from Carrickfergus to Whitehead and the railway line were both closed as fire crews tackled the flames.The main road from Carrickfergus to Whitehead and the railway line were both closed as fire crews tackled the flames.
People have returned to their homes but, on Tuesday morning, firefighters continued to tackle the blaze.People have returned to their homes but, on Tuesday morning, firefighters continued to tackle the blaze.