Health Centre evacuated after fire in boiler house

Twenty-five firefighters arrived at the scene just after 1.40 and fourappliances as well as a commercial support unit were involved.

The building had already been evacuated by the time the fire service arrived and plumes of smoke could be seen rising above the building.

The blaze, which is being treated as accidental, was on the fifth floor at the boiler house on the roof.

The incident was dealt with by 2.15pm when staff and patients were allowed back in.

Assistant Group Commander Geoff Wilson said it was a small fire that was dealt with quickly.

He said the insulation on one of the four gas fired boilers had caught alight, forcing the evacuation of the building. When firefighters arrived they had to double check the building was empty and the gas supply was turned off.

A hose reel jet was placed at the front of the building and two firefighters went to the roof to put the fire out.

"The fire was put out in a relatively short space of time," said Mr Wilson. "There was a lot of smoke caused by the insulation which was on fire but it was relatively small and put out quickly.

"The area was evacuated and it seemed a lot worse than what it was."

He said that although the smoke alarms were activated there was little smoke or fire damage and the blaze was mainly confined to the boiler house.

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Firefighters on the roof during Monday's fire at Lisburn Health Centre. US0411-109AO Pic by Aidan O'Reilly