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Belfast Live
Belfast Live
National
Maurice Fitzmaurice

Fire at Antrim's Rathenraw industrial estate sends huge plume of smoke into air

Around thirty lorry trailers went on fire at a major incident in an Antrim industrial estate on Tuesday night.

Residents living in the town’s Rathenraw area were warned to keep their windows closed as the blaze sent a massive plume of smoke into the air on October 19.

It is understood at least one trailer on fire contained plastic which caused some concern for firefighters at the scene.

The Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service told Belfast Live the situation was tackled by a crew of 38 firefighters.

There were five appliances on the scene at the height of the incident plus one aerial unit and a command unit.

Firefighters using BA or breathing apparatus on scene tried to stop the fire spreading by moving other plant in the industrial estate away from danger. Crews used foam and water to suppress the fire.

The blaze could be seen from some distance with a number of images and videos circulating on social media. An NIFRS spokesman said it was too early to establish if the blaze was deliberate or accidental.

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