Homes evacuated during fire at Larne fuel depot

The Fire and Rescue Service was called to T R Fulton, a heating and electrical shop on Pound Street, after a flatbed delivery van was discovered ablaze in the yard of the premises about 2.15am. The burning vehicle was surrounded by hundreds of gas cylinders, bags of coal and an oil tank which had been recently filled.

A number of residents from neighbouring Gardenmore Place were evacuated from their homes for a time while the Fire Service tackled the blaze, and were given shelter in a nearby church hall. Police confirmed that they are treating the fire as suspicious.

An employee at Fultons praised the Fire Service for their “quick response” to the incident and said it would have been a “total disaster” if the flames had spread to the nearby fuel supply.

She told the Times: “I got a call at about 3.30am from police saying that there was a fire on the premises, and by the time I arrived the fire brigade had already put it out.

“They really were on the ball and it could have been so much worse had they not brought the fire under control so quickly.”

Anyone with information about how the fire was started is asked to contact Larne police on 0845 600 8000.

Alternatively, information can be passed on anonymously through the Crimestoppers charity on freephone 0800 555 111.