Northern Ireland

Firefighters tackle blaze at former hotel in Enniskillen

Forthill Street in the Co Fermanagh town remains closed

PACEMAKER BELFAST 11/09/2024 Police and Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service (NIFRS) crews are at the scene of a blaze at a derelict hotel in Enniskillen, County Fermanagh. Nine appliances and more than 40 fire personnel are carrying out operations at Forthill Street. It was reported to emergency services at about 05:00 BST on Wednesday. Police said the area is likely to be closed for some time while emergency services deal with the incident. The public is being urged to avoid the scene and seek alternative routes for their journey.
Firefighters tackle the blaze at the derelict Railway Hotel in Enniskillen on Wednesday morning. PICTURE: PACEMAKER
By Paul Ainsworth

More than 40 firefighters have tackled a large blaze at a derelict hotel in Enniskillen that is believed may have been started deliberately.

Emergency services were alerted to the blaze at the old Railway Hotel in Forthill Street on Wednesday morning.

In a statement posted to social media, the NI Fire and Rescue Service said 43 personnel were called to the scene with nine fire appliances.

A PSNI spokesperson said Forthill Street was closed to motorists and pedestrians and is “likely to be closed for some time while emergency services deal with this incident”.

PACEMAKER BELFAST 11/09/2024 Police and Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service (NIFRS) crews are at the scene of a blaze at a derelict hotel in Enniskillen, County Fermanagh. Nine appliances and more than 40 fire personnel are carrying out operations at Forthill Street. It was reported to emergency services at about 05:00 BST on Wednesday. Police said the area is likely to be closed for some time while emergency services deal with the incident. The public is being urged to avoid the scene and seek alternative routes for their journey.
Over 40 firefighters worked at the scene of the fire at Forthill Street on Wednesday morning. PICTURE: PACEMAKER

They added police are “urging the public to avoid the area and seek alternative routes for their journey”.

The 20-bedroom property had operated for over 130 before it was closed in 2015, and the building was placed on the market in 2018.

The former hotel was damaged when a blaze broke out at the site in March of 2023.

The NIFRS said following last year’s fire they believed it had been started deliberately.

Speaking to the BBC on Wednesday, NIFRS group commander Michael Curran said while the cause of the latest fire was not yet confirmed, he believed it was likely to have been the result of arson.