Gas cylinder fire causes County Down home evacuations

This week, 10 families who live in Millisle, County Down have had to be removed from their homes after a blaze tore down a garage in the neighbourhood.

As a fire safety precaution, an exclusion zone was set up around the building, along with road diversions, while the residents took refuge in a nearby community centre.

Two oxy-acetylene cylinders were found within the structure and the quick response from the fire service, with their five appliances, was said to have prevented any further danger.

Councillor Jonathan Bell commended the 25 firefighters from the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service for their actions in bringing the situation under control.

He said:

“The fire this evening concerned a garage and acetylene used for welding which has highly explosive qualities.

“Once again it is our police and fire service which we depend on for their expertise in times of emergency.”

The assistant group commander for Bangor, Stephen Boyd, said:

“There was a large domestic garage destroyed by fire. We are not treating the fire as suspicious — it was started accidentally.

“The road will be closed until 8pm on Wednesday night and we have to wait for the oxy-acetylene cylinders to cool down before they are safely removed.”