Northern Ireland Fire Service Responds to 151 Incidents Over Bank Holiday Weekend

Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service (NIFRS) received 303 emergency calls, and responded to 151 operational incidents, 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.

Fifty four of the emergency calls were bonfire-related, and in Cookstown, County Tyrone, firefighters had to withdraw from a bonfire due to a "hostile crowd", NIFRS said.

In a separate incident in Greenisland, Carrickfergus, the fire service dealt with a row of terraced houses, along with two oil tanks and a shed, on fire. Two homes were completely destroyed with damage caused to a further two properties.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

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

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," NIFRS Area Commander Dermot Rooney said.

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