Town centre street remains closed after major fire
More than 50 firefighters were at the scene during the height of the blaze
- Published
A town centre street in Limavady remained closed on Friday after asbestos was found at the site of a large fire.
It broke out at a derelict former nightclub on Catherine Street just after 17:40 BST on Thursday.
More than 50 firefighters were at the scene at the height of the fire.
It was brought under control on Thursday evening, with one fire crew remaining at the site into the early hours of Friday.
People living nearby have been asked to keep windows and doors shut
A senior firefighter said Catherine Street was quickly evacuated but it would stay closed due to the discovery of asbestos.
David Doherty, western area commander for the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service (NIFRS), said an investigation into the cause of the fire was underway, but there were “no early indications” of how it started.
Mr Doherty said a number of fire crews from across the north west attended the “complicated incident”.
“There was several gas cylinders involved in the fire and there was also suspected asbestos in the roof tiles," Mr Doherty told 鶹Լ Radio Foyle's North West Today programme on Friday.
“Our crews worked very hard in the early stages to contain the fire and mitigate the damages to businesses up and down the street."
He said that at the height of the blaze, eight fire appliances responded, one aerial appliance, one command support unit and one hazardous material vehicle.
He said that crews from Coleraine, Limavady, Londonderry, Dungiven, Strabane, Magherafelt, Maghera and Catstlederg all attended the incident.
He said the scene has now been passed over to partners in the Causeway Coast & Glens Borough Council, who along with a specialist contractors will work to remove any suspected asbestos tiles which have fallen onto the road.
David Doherty, the western area commander for the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service
Causeway Coast and Glens council have been informed of the asbestos, Cdr Doherty said, and are arranging for specialist contractors to attend the scene.
The cause of the fire is not yet known. An investigation will begin on Friday.
Firefighters are working as quickly as possible to extinguish the fire, NIFRS said
The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) said a number of diversions around Catherine Street are in place.