Two homes destroyed in County Antrim fire linked to bonfire

Two homes have been "completely destroyed", with a further two properties damaged, after a fire broke out in a row of terraced houses in County Antrim.

The fire service tackled the blaze, which also spread to two oil tanks and a shed, on Knockleigh Walk in Greenisland, Carrickfergus.

There was a bonfire nearby and the cause of the fire "is under investigation", the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service (NIFRS) said.

NIFRS said it received 303 emergency calls and responded to 151 operational incidents - 54 of which were bonfire related - between 18:00 BST on Saturday and 02:00 on Sunday.

Some bonfires across Northern Ireland were lit ahead of the Orange Order's Twelfth of July parades.

"In Greenisland, Carrickfergus, firefighters dealt with a row of terraced houses on fire, along with two oil tanks and a shed. Two homes were completely destroyed," NIFRS Area Commander Dermot Rooney said in a statement.

The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) said it assisted the NIFRS in Knockleigh Walk, after a report was made at 00.20 on Sunday.

They added the fire has been "deemed accidental at this time".

Alliance East Antrim MLA Stewart Dickson has called for a "full investigation" into the fire in Greenisland.

He expressed his "deepest sympathies" to the residents of the homes and thanked their "wonderful neighbours".

"The whole Greenisland community really rallied around the victims of the fire."

He said no one was hurt or injured in the fire.

Elsewhere, on Milner Street in Belfast, firefighters dealt with a garage fire following fire spread from a bonfire.

In Cookstown, County Tyrone, firefighters had to withdraw from a bonfire due to a "hostile crowd", NIFRS said.

Firefighters also responded to other incidents across the night including accidental house fires in Antrim and Coleraine and an articulated lorry fire in Newry.

"With further bonfires planned, we are prepared and ready to respond to all types of emergencies. We would encourage everyone to stay safe and make responsible choices throughout the remainder of the bank holiday weekend," Dermot Rooney said.

"With warm, dry weather continuing, we also ask anyone spending time outdoors to follow our countryside fire safety advice."

Last year, NIFRS received 277 emergency calls on the Eleventh night - more than twice as many as 2024 - between 18:00 and 02:00 BST. They said 72 of those were bonfire related.

This year's Orange Order parades will be held on Monday 13 July.

This is because 12 July falls on a Sunday, which the Orange Order considers a religious day of rest.

While many communities decided to light their bonfires on Saturday, some will light theirs on Sunday - on the eve of the parades.