PacemakerThe Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service (NIFRS) has said that a fire at Whiteabbey Hospital in County Antrim has been brought under control.
More than 50 firefighters attended after the NIFRS received a call at 11:09 BST on Sunday along with six fire engines two aerial appliances to the Doagh Road site.
Fire officers are still in attendance but the NIFRS said “operational activities” are being scaled down.
A spokesperson for the Northern Trust, which runs the hospital, said the fire was in an unused building, adding that there was no impact on patient services and visiting to the hospital is as normal.
The public has been advised to avoid the area, and residents living nearby were asked to keep windows and doors closed.
PacemakerWhiteabbey Hospital provides care for patients requiring rehabilitation or further assessment following an acute hospital admission.
‘Well developed fire’
Paul Morrow, a group commander in the NIFRS, said crews had been faced with a “well developed fire” on the ground and first floors of the building when they arrived.
He said that the fire was “down the end where there are a couple of derelict buildings”.
He added firefighters have “worked very hard”.
“We are always very thorough with our post-fire checks to make sure it doesn’t reignite or spread,” he said.
