Residents allowed home after Lurgan evacuation

A Co Armagh town returned to normal today after a fire in a chemical filled storeroom sparked fears of an explosion.

The Fire Service of Northern Ireland had maintained a 200-metre evacuation zone around a chemical factory in Lurgan because of concerns of a possible gas explosion.

But earlier today residents were given the all-clear to return to their homes.

More than 30 firefighters using specialist equipment put out the blaze at the plant last night but the area remained sealed off throughout the night and this morning as a precaution.

The fire began in the storeroom in Watson’s Lane in Lurgan at around 7.30pm.

Residents reported hearing a massive explosion in the area followed by thick black smoke.

Police closed the town centre to traffic and evacuated houses and other buildings within a 400 metre zone.

Divisional Officer Ken Leathem of the Fire Service of Northern Ireland said the exclusion zone was reduced after the blaze was put out.

“The fire itself is now under control but with acetylene we have to keep them under observation for 24 hours. If they are subjected to heat they could start to decompose inside and this could cause an explosion.”

Mr Leathem said the fire was in an unoccupied storeroom. A small amount of chemicals, believed to be phosphorous and magnesium were involved.

Six fire appliances and three special appliances attended the scene last night.

The cause of the fire is still being investigated but it is not thought to have been malicious.