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Blaze at Southern Regional College building being treated as arson

The fire was in a derelict building on the Kitchen Hill site

A fire at Southern Regional College in Lurgan earlier today (Friday) is being treated as arson.

The fire, which took hold in a derelict building at the Kitchen Hill site, was reported just before noon.

Three fire appliances and police attended the incident.

At one stage, thick plumes of black smoke could be seen from a considerable distance away.

Sergeant Stewart said: “Shortly before 12pm, it was reported that a fire had started at a derelict building in the area. Colleagues from Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service attended and extinguished the fire.

“Enquiries are continuing and the fire is believed to have been started deliberately.

“Police would appeal to anyone with any information in relation to the incident to contact them on 101, quoting reference number 805 26/08/22.

“Alternatively, you can submit a report online using our non-emergency reporting form via http://www.psni.police.uk/makeareport/.

“You can also call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111, or online at http://crimestoppers-uk.org/.”

Two fire appliances from Lurgan Fire Station and one from Portadown Fire Station along with an aerial appliance attended the blaze.

In a Facebook post, Southern Regional College said that as a result of the fire, the campus would be closed for the remainder of the day as a precautionary measure.

“NI Fire and Rescue Service are currently on site and an environmental clean-up is under way. The public are advised to avoid the area.

“The Lurgan campus will reopen and normal business will resume on Tuesday, after the Bank Holiday Monday.”

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