Fire at derelict hotel ‘believed to have been started deliberately’

By Jonathan McCambridge, PA

A large fire which extensively damaged a derelict hotel in Co Fermanagh is believed to have been started deliberately.

An operation by the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service (NIFRS) to deal with the blaze at Forthill Street in Enniskillen has concluded.

The fire was at the former Railway Hotel in the centre of the town.

One local councillor described it as an iconic building.

At the height of the incident, which was reported early on Wednesday, 43 firefighters and nine appliances were tackling the blaze.

Images from the scene showed extensive damage to the roof of the building.

An NIFRS spokesperson said: “A large fire at a derelict building in Forthill Street, Enniskillen, has been dealt with.

“The initial call was received at 4.58am this morning, Wednesday September 11 2024.

“At the height of the incident, approximately 43 firefighters attended the scene along with two appliances from Enniskillen fire station, and one appliance each from Irvinestown, Lisnaskea, Dromore, Strabane, Fintona, Castlederg and Omagh fire stations, along with an aerial appliance from Northland fire station and a command support unit from Strabane fire station.

“Due to the tireless efforts of our firefighters, the fire was brought under control and this prevented the fire from spreading to the adjacent properties.

“We would like to thank the public for their ongoing patience whilst we dealt with the incident.”

The spokesperson added: “We worked with our partners to reduce disruption for members of the public as much as possible.

“The cause of the fire is believed to have been deliberate ignition.

“The incident was dealt with by 4.04pm and the scene was left with PSNI.”

The fire caused traffic disruption in Enniskillen and members of the public were advised to avoid the area and nearby homeowners to keep their windows and doors closed.

Alliance Party councillor Eddie Roofe expressed shock at the blaze.

He said: “This is a shocking and incredibly saddening incident.

“The Railway Hotel is an iconic establishment in the local community here.

“Their Sunday roasts were a staple for my family and many others, and its absence has been starkly felt on Forthill.

“That it could have been purposefully attacked is absolutely disgraceful, and I would encourage anyone with any information that may be useful to the police in their investigations to please get in touch or report it anonymously.

“I want to extend my thanks as well to the NIFRS for all their hard work.”