FIREFIGHTERS worked through the night to prevent a blaze at scrap metal yard in Armagh from spreading to local homes and businesses.
The fire – at Molloys on the Monaghan Road – began at around tea-time on Monday, September 3.
Some 80 firefighters – backed up by 10 engines, including specialist high volume pumping units – battled the flames for up to 18 hours before it was brought under control.
The fire – which caused extensive damage to the premises – was being treated as “accidental”.
Upon arrival, crews were faced with what was described as “a major fire at a large commercial premises”.
A spokesman for the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service said: “At the heigh of the incident, 10 appliances and a number of specialist appliances, including two water tankers, attended. We had to supplement the water supply with two high volume pumping units, as the existing water supplies in the area were insufficient to bring the blaze under control.
“Eighty firefighters worked in difficult and aruous conditions throughout the night to prevent the fire from spreading to nearby residential and commercial premises.”
