Oil tanks escape in Ardglass arson attack

Oil tanks escape in Ardglass arson attack

19 September 2012 - by BY DAVID TELFORD

FIREFIGHTERS have been praised for averting what has been described as a “major disaster and loss of life” in Ardglass last Sunday evening.

A 40 foot lorry container packed with 1,500 fish boxes purchased recently in Germany was set alight just yards from an oil depot at the north dock.

Fire swept through the container owned by a local businessman just after 8pm and it took firefighters over 30 minutes to bring the blaze under control. A number of fishing nets and a boat on a trailer close to the burning trailer sustained major fire damage.

The quayside blaze was close to huge tanks filled with thousands of litres of diesel and home heating oil and police believe the lorry trailer — which belonged to Ardglass Fish Sales — was deliberately set on fire.

Councillors Dermot Curran and Cadogan Enright have expressed their concern and praised firefighters for ensuring the blaze didn’t spread.

“My thoughts are with the businessman who faces a massive bill to replace the trailer and the fish boxes which were destroyed,” said councillor Curran.

“The fire was dangerously close to fuel tanks and there could have been a major disaster if the blaze had reached them. We are fortunate there was no loss of life and the firefighters who tackled this inferno deserve the praise of the local community.”

The councillor said in the aftermath of Sunday’s fire he was approached by a number of people who want to see increased police patrols in Ardglass.

“I have taken these concerns on board and will raise them with local police chiefs. People I have spoken to would like to see an increased police presence in a bid to deter anti-social activity and indeed criminals,” he said.

Councillor Enright said the fire was the result of an “act of wanton vandalism and destruction” which could have turned into a deadly fireball with potential loss of life. He claimed local youths on drink and drugs started the fire.

“This act of wanton destruction had potential to spread and only the hard work of firefighters who raced from Downpatrick averted a disaster on a large scale,” he declared.

“The fire posed a real threat to life and property and I suspect considerable pollution entered the harbour from the hundreds of melting fish boxes dripping into the water. Indeed the fire had a major impact on the environment with melting plastic going into the harbour and thick, acrid smoke pouring into the night sky.”

Councillor Enright added: “There were reports on Sunday night of local youths taunting the PSNI at the scene of the fire. Action needs to be taken to stop any such incident occurring again. I hope the local policing partnership examines the issues involved, including where a small group of young people in Ardglass are getting drink and drugs from.”