MORE than 40 firefighters, nine fire engines and an aerial appliance from Londonderry were needed to bring a blaze at a derelict hotel in Enniskillen under control.
The fire at the former Railway Hotel on Forthill Street broke out shortly before 5am yesterday (Wednesday), and quickly escalated into a major incident.
At the height of the blaze, approximately 43 firefighters attended the scene, along with fire engines from Enniskillen, Irvinestown, Lisnaskea, Dromore, Strabane, Fintona, Castlederg and Omagh.
An aerial appliance from Northland Fire Station was also deployed, and assistance was given by the Command Support Unit from Strabane Fire Station.
By yesterday afternoon, the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service (NIFRS) said that while the incident was ongoing, it had been "scaled back".
At the time of going to press, the cause of the fire had yet to be determined; however, in an earlier interview, Group Commander Michael Curran said that "indicators would suggest it is most likely deliberate".
"We will work in partnership with the PSNI to establish the cause," Mr. Curran added.
The fire incited much concern locally, given the significance of the building itself.
Long a popular venue in Enniskillen, the old Railway Hotel closed its doors in 2013, and lay derelict before going back on the market last year.
It is currently owned by local businessman, David Mahon.
When contacted by The Impartial Reporter, Mr. Mahon said he was "surprised" to learn about the fire.
"It came as a surprise," he said. "I have been away, so I don't really know much about it, other than the fact there was a fire at it. They [NIFRS] have got it out."
One of the first to raise the alarm was UUP Councillor, Roy Crawford, who happened to be in the area at the time.
"I was in the area shortly before 5am this morning," Councillor Crawford recounted.
"On my way past the old TP Toppings garage, I noticed a flame. I thought, 'Gosh, that looks like Dunnes Stores', but as I came up and realised, I saw it was actually [at] the old Railway Hotel.
"I pulled over to the side of the road, phoned 999, and asked for police and ambulance to respond to a well-established fire.
"I grabbed a photo and stuck it up on social media, just to alert people to avoid the area."
Councillor Crawford said that many people will have felt emotional to see the "local landmark" on fire.
"It is a big local landmark, so it was sad to see it up in smoke," said Councillor Crawford.
"So many people have fond memories of it over the years, so it's sad to it in this state. Overall, there's too many derelict buildings in our district."
NIFRS paid tribute to firefighters who worked to bring the blaze under control.
"Due to the tireless efforts of our firefighters, the fire was brought under control," said an NIFRS spokesman.
"This prevented the fire from spreading to the adjacent properties. We would like to thank the public for their ongoing patience whilst we deal with the incident.
“We continue to work with our partners to reduce disruption for members of the public as much as possible.
“The cause of the fire is yet to be determined, and firefighting operations are likely to continue for much of the day.”
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