Arson suspected in Belfast fire probe

Arsonists may have started a massive fire which threatened to destroy one of Belfast city centre’s Victorian buildings, it emerged tonight.

More than 120 firefighters battled for at least 12 hours to halt a raging blaze that swept through the four-storey Queen’s Building.

The ferocity of the fire brought mayhem to the hub of Belfast’s commercial district and horrified conservationists who feared the Victorian edifice built in 1883 would be demolished.

A police inquiry is due to begin at the scene on Royal Avenue on Friday, and it is understood their investigators have been handed information that points to possible malicious intent.

Although he refused to go into detail, Belfast Area Commander Chris Kerr said: “We are treating the fire as suspicious. We have an open mind and we are not ruling out arson at present.”

Mr Kerr’s officers have also noted how rapidly the blaze spread from an area of vacant office accommodation on the top floor – one of the earliest signs of any foul play.

As businesses were forced to relocate staff from gutted offices, there were concerns that Belfast’s biggest fire in years could deal it crippling blow to the city landscape.

Rita Harkin of the Ulster Architectural Heritage Society said it would be a disaster if the prized building had to be pulled down. She said: “It’s critical to that townscape that it doesn’t come down.

“That whole group of buildings form such an important part of Victorian planning. It would be an enormous loss and every effort has to be made to maintain as much of the fabric as possible.”

No-one was in the building when the fire broke out overnight, but it caused huge disruption for city centre traders.

A whole stretch of the main shopping district was closed off amid frantic efforts to bring the blaze under control.

The city branch of Waterstones’ bookshop, a jewellers and the Press Association news agency’s Belfast bureau were all located in the building.

As well as smoke and flame damage, water also flooded down through the floors, wiping out valuable stock.

Fire crews equipped with breathing equipment had to wait nearly 10 hours before going into the building amid fears that floors could collapse.

Experts from Belfast City Council’s building control unit also examined whether the structure could be salvaged.

A preliminary survey eased demolition fears, although the roof was destroyed and major structural damage confirmed.

A City Council spokesman said: “We have conducted a preliminary survey and there will be another one undertaken in the morning.

“Our main priority at the moment is to liaise with both the Fire Brigade and police to get the city centre back to normal as quickly as possible.”

Journalists whose office was ruined in the outbreak moved to temporary accommodation in the neighbouring Belfast Telegraph newspaper.

Press Association Ireland editor Deric Henderson said: “When the Fire Brigade arrived in the early hours the flames were already coming out the roof.”