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Bar fire 'suspicious', police say Bar fire 'suspicious', police say
(about 3 hours later)
A fire which destroyed a bar in the centre of Londonderry is being treated as suspicious, the police have said.A fire which destroyed a bar in the centre of Londonderry is being treated as suspicious, the police have said.
The blaze broke out at Sister Sara's on Little James Street at about 0130 GMT on Wednesday.The blaze broke out at Sister Sara's on Little James Street at about 0130 GMT on Wednesday.
Fifty firefighters and seven appliances battled to prevent the fire spreading to more than 20 adjoining apartments.Fifty firefighters and seven appliances battled to prevent the fire spreading to more than 20 adjoining apartments.
One person was taken to hospital suffering from smoke inhalation. Assessments are under way to establish if the structure is safe.One person was taken to hospital suffering from smoke inhalation. Assessments are under way to establish if the structure is safe.
Little James Street and Sackville Street remain closed to traffic.Little James Street and Sackville Street remain closed to traffic.
This resident was evacuated from his flat. Adam Harris lives in an apartment directly above part of the bar.
"At about half past one we woke up because we heard all the fire alarms going off.
"When we turned on the light it was pitch black with smoke, it smelt like plastic burning.
"We went out, and we knew next door had a young child so we just banged on the door to make sure they got up and out," said Mr Harris.
'Lights flashing'
Another resident, who was also evacuated from his flat, said he was woken by a smoke alarm.
"At 1.20am, I heard the alarms going off and after five minutes I sort of panicked and I looked out the window and I saw all the lights flashing and saw the fire brigade."At 1.20am, I heard the alarms going off and after five minutes I sort of panicked and I looked out the window and I saw all the lights flashing and saw the fire brigade.
"I put on my slippers and I was straight out the door," he said."I put on my slippers and I was straight out the door," he said.
Station Commander Kevin Lynch said the Fire Service had to battle to save the adjoining building. Station Commander Kevin Lynch said the fire service had to battle to save the adjoining building.
"When the fire did go out though the roof, there were three windows on the gable end of the block of flats, and it took a lot of effort to make sure the fire didn't get through to the flats." "When the fire did go out through the roof, there were three windows on the gable end of the block of flats, and it took a lot of effort to make sure the fire didn't get through to the flats."
"It was quite a serious incident and we had a lot of concerns early on, primarily with the threat to life in the flats," he said."It was quite a serious incident and we had a lot of concerns early on, primarily with the threat to life in the flats," he said.
Mr Lynch said the Fire Service was still at the scene, and was trying to make the building safe.
"There is a lot of loose debris on the roof, and we would be fearful that if high winds got up some of that loose debris could come off and fall into the street," he said.
The police have appealed to anyone who was in Sister Sara's from 1800 GMT yesterday to contact them at Strand Road police station.The police have appealed to anyone who was in Sister Sara's from 1800 GMT yesterday to contact them at Strand Road police station.
Meanwhile, there has also been a fire on the site of a former hospital in Carrickfergus. It spread from the ground floor to the roof of the site at Taylor's Avenue.Meanwhile, there has also been a fire on the site of a former hospital in Carrickfergus. It spread from the ground floor to the roof of the site at Taylor's Avenue.
Forty firefighters prevented the fire from spreading to a nearby day centre.Forty firefighters prevented the fire from spreading to a nearby day centre.