Co Down pub roof collapses in suspected arson attack

The blazing roof of a pub collapsed in a pile of debris after a suspected arson attack, the fire service said today.

Flames were seen shooting from the smouldering wreckage of the terraced building at the Plough Bar in The Square, Hillsborough, Co Down, shortly after 1.30am.

Crews of 50 fire-fighters from around the country battled for two and a half hours to contain the blaze, which developed in the roof space, but nobody was hurt.

Police said a 20-year-old man had been arrested in connection with suspected arson.

Station Officer Martin McDonald said: "In one part of the building we had a total roof collapse and it damaged the floors below with the weight of the debris and the material."

"Had it been an hour earlier there could have been an awful lot more people inside the premises and maybe some people who had been drinking may not have reacted as quickly."

Half the building was badly affected with lower floors smoke damaged. Fire crew spent some time checking the blackened embers but the area around the fire has been re-opened to traffic.

He said 15 people, mainly bar staff, had quickly evacuated the premises.

Fire crews were called from Belfast and across Co Down and a water-pumping appliance doused the flames from above.

Mr McDonald added: "When we arrived seven minutes after receiving the call high winds hampered fire-fighters and we had great difficulty preventing the fire from spreading."