An investigation is due to begin this month to establish the cause of two overnight fires which have destroyed an industrial laundry in South Belfast. Efforts were continuing in the early hours of Tuesday 28 August 2007 to bring the second blaze under control, an operation which involved over 50 Firefighters. Members of the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service who were present at the Donegall Avenue scene said early indications suggest the blaze was suspicious, and the area remains cordoned off.
The emergency services dealt initially with the fire at the premises at 9:30pm on Monday 27 August, but were called back to the laundry before 1am the following morning after reports that it was on fire again. At the peak of the fire ten crews and two aerial appliances were brought to the scene to help tackle the blaze.
Speaking at the scene, Area Group Commander Graham Lowry described the laundry as "completely gutted." The scene is currently being examined by the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) and the Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland (HSE NI).
