A large blaze at a historic mill in Co Armagh was started deliberately, firefighters have confirmed.
Six fire appliances were called to the Glebe Hill Manor area of Tandragee after a large blaze was reported at the abandoned Sintons Mill shortly before 9pm on Tuesday.
A spokesperson for the NI Fire and Rescue Service (NIFRS) said: “Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus extinguished the fire using four jets and one hose reel. The cause of the fire is believed to have been deliberate ignition and the incident was dealt with by 12.34am.”
The buildings date back to the 1860s, and at at its height the mill employed over 600 people, but closed its doors in the 1990s.
The site includes a Grade B2 listed mill building and in 2009 was earmarked for a major residential development, which failed to materialise. The site was sold in 2014, and placed on the market again in 2022.
Police had advised householders in the surrounding area to close doors and windows as the fire was being extinguished.
PSNI Sergeant Paul Stewart said officers are investigating the incident as arson.
“Our enquiries are ongoing and I would appeal to anyone who may be able to assist with our investigation, particularly anyone with CCTV, dashcam or other relevant footage, to contact us on 101, quoting reference 1763 – 29/10/24,” he said.
Meanwhile, part of Church Street in Ballymena has reopened after an early morning fire on Wednesday at a building in the area.
An NIFRS spokesperson said: “Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus extinguished the fire using one hose reel. The cause of the fire is believed to have been accidental ignition and the incident was dealt with by 7.08am.”
In Armagh, a vacant house in the Rosemount Park area was seriously damaged in a fire believed to have been started deliberately on Tuesday evening.
Firefighters arrived at the semi-detached property at around 6.30pm, and the blaze was dealt with by just before 8pm.
