Belfast fire: Man arrested after derelict building blaze
- Published
Local residents have been asked by NIFRS to keep windows closed
A man has been arrested after a large fire in a derelict building in Belfast city centre.
The Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service (NIFRS) said it was called to the blaze on Samuel Street at 02:40 BST.
Six fire appliances, two aerial appliances, 40 firefighters and eight officers attended the scene at the height of the blaze.
The blaze was extinguished by Wednesday afternoon.
Multiple roads including North Street, Millfield, Union Street, Royal Avenue, Gresham Street and Winetavern Street were closed while firefighters tackled the blaze.
They have since reopened.
Firefighters remain at the scene in the city centre
A NIFRS spokesperson described the fire as "significant" and said that crews worked tirelessly to bring it to control and to prevent it spreading to other buildings.
They added that the road closures were necessary as the building was a heavy and "unstable structure".
Local residents had been asked to keep their windows closed.
The scene on Wednesday, at about 07:00 BST
The cause of the fire remains under investigation by emergency services.
Police have appealed for information, CCTV and dashcam footage.