Into the inferno... the harrowing image that shows the courage and skill of firefighters as they battled blaze at Primark’s Bank Buildings
THE Fire Service has praised firefighters who tackled the blaze that ripped through Belfast’s Bank Buildings, as it released shocking new images of the scene that confronted crews.
The blaze was finally extinguished yesterday, three days after it engulfed the landmark city centre building that housed the Primark store.
The scene has now been handed over to Primark, which is managing an outer cordon.
An investigation into the cause of the blaze is continuing.
In an update last night, the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service (NIFRS) said: “This has been a complex operation and fire crews will maintain a watching brief over the coming days.
“We commend fire crews for their tremendous efforts during this challenging incident and for saving the refurbished rear extension of the building and adjacent properties.
“We are also grateful for the valuable assistance provided by our multi-agency partners and the support from the public during this time.”
The fire started near the top of the building at about
11am on Tuesday, causing the roof and floors to collapse. The charred sandstone facade is all that remains of the historic building at Castle Junction.
Structural engineers have been assessing the building amid concerns that it could collapse, although a senior firefighter said on Thursday he was “optimistic” it could be saved.
Meanwhile, Primark’s engineers are designing a system that they hope will save the building’s facade.
NIFRS said yesterday it is still too early to speculate on what caused the fire, adding that fire officers have begun conducting their investigation to determine the cause.
Earlier, NIFRS posted the images showing crews fighting the flames.
It said on social media: “Well done to all the emergency services personnel involved in dealing with the Primark fire in Belfast.”
Firefighter turned Ulster Unionist MLA Robbie Butler also praised the efforts of the emergency services.
Mr Butler (46) joined the Fire Service in 2000 at the age of 28, having previously worked as a butcher and later an auxiliary prison officer at Maghaberry.
Speaking from experience having served 16 years, the father-oftwo said those who tackled the blaze deserved much credit.
Mr Butler recalled a similar inferno he tackled 14 years ago in Belfast city centre, when he was based in the Springfield Road station.
That blaze broke out in October 2004 and caused serious damage to several buildings in Royal Avenue.
Thousands of books, worth hundreds of thousands of pounds, were destroyed.
Mr Butler said: “This week’s event brought back vivid memories of what was the biggest fire I was ever called to.
“It was close to Primark, about two streets away in what was Waterstones and Goldsmith’s Jewellers. It was on a similar scale in terms of the building and personnel involved, but because of the time of night there wasn’t the same life risk.”
Mr Butler described how firefighters confront a major blaze.
He explained: “At the early part of the incident when the firefighters are trying to establish if an evacuation has been successful and there’s no one inside, that’s really tough. Those members who attended this week’s Primark fire will be hugely relieved that no one was seriously injured or died, which is the most important thing.
“Secondly, they will be pleased to have prevented the fire spreading to other buildings.
“Thirdly, however, they will have been disappointed at how such an iconic building has been left, in terms of possibly needing to be demolished, but that was outside of their control.
“You have to think about the ferocity of that fire and the tem- peratures that it would have reached. I have never seen a fire travel down a building and through the floors in such haste, as normally it would move up the building.”
Mr Butler also recalled one incident he attended as a firefighter, a well-developed blaze in a house in Belfast in 2001, where two people died.
He added: “You have to remember that these firefighters who dealt with the Primark incident will go on to attend others where there will have been a personal tragedy and loss of life.
“Those sort of moments never leave you, but you have to deal with it, and some people have a greater capacity than others.”