Milford: PSNI confirms 'devastating' fire at Co Armagh commercial premises was an arson attack

Emergency services were called to the scene of the fire at Ballyards Road before 4am.

They are appealing for for witnesses and information following the blaze.

Inspector Walker said: “We received a report at around 4am on Saturday of a large fire at a shed in the Ballyards Road area.

"Officers attended the scene, where colleagues from the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service were in the process of extinguishing the fire. There was no further requirement for police at that time, however, officers attended the scene again later in the day to conduct enquiries, after it was confirmed that the fire was the result of deliberate ignition.

"The Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service were also tasked to the scene again at around 2am on Sunday morning, February 22, due to the risk of re-ignition. A subsequent fire was also then extinguished.

"Thankfully, no injuries were reported. However, the fire is being treated as arson and our enquiries into this are ongoing.”

Police remained at the scene on Monday, February 23.

"We would appeal to anyone who has any information, or who saw anything suspicious in the area on Saturday morning, to contact police on the 101 number, quoting reference 230 of 21/02/26,” Insp Walker added.

Firefighters have been praised for their “professionalism and dedication” when dealing with the blaze and preventing it from spreading to neighbouring properties.

SDLP Councillor Thomas O’Hanlon described the blaze as “devastating” and that its impact would be felt across a wide area.

“The local community was wakened by what appears to have been a loud explosion at a commercial property in the area,” he said.

"The premises is home to a long‑established, family‑run business operating in the building supply and construction sector. The impact of this fire will be felt far beyond the immediate site, by the family and staff directly affected, and by the many customers, suppliers, contractors and members of the wider construction community who rely on this business.

"The family are well known and highly respected locally, and their business plays an important role across both the private and public sectors.

"I am relieved that no injuries have been reported. At this stage, the cause of the fire remains unknown.”

Cllr O’Hanlon commended the emergency service crews who battled the blaze in difficult conditions.

"I want to pay tribute to the professionalism and dedication of the firefighters and emergency personnel who responded rapidly and worked through extremely challenging conditions to bring the situation under control.

"Crews from Keady and Armagh were supported by colleagues and specialist teams from across the region, including from as far away as Lisburn. Their efforts, alongside the work of other first responders, have undoubtedly helped prevent further damage and ensured public safety.”

In a statement issued on Saturday evening, the Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service (NIFRS) said: "Having received the initial call at 3.45am on Saturday, February 21, operational crews worked tirelessly in arduous conditions throughout the day to extinguish the fire and prevent further fire spread to additional properties,” a NIFRS spokesperson said.

"The incident was dealt with by 6pm on Saturday, when the scene was handed over to colleagues from PSNI to investigate the potential cause.

"We would like to thank the public for their support and patience whilst we dealt with this incident.”