Emergency services extinguish Lodge Road blaze; police seek witnesses
Police are treating a fire at a derelict building on Lodge Road, Coleraine, as arson after a significant firefighting response on the evening of Sunday 27 September. The Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service (NIFRS) and the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) said there were no reports of injuries and that enquiries are ongoing.
Firefighters were called to the scene shortly after 5pm; one report gives the initial call as coming in at 5.08pm, while a PSNI statement records the report as around 5.15pm. Crews from Coleraine, Portstewart, Maghera and Portrush fire stations attended, together with an aerial appliance from Northland Fire Station in Derry/Londonderry.
- Firefighting teams used breathing apparatus and multiple jets to tackle the blaze.
- The incident was declared under control and dealt with by 10.02pm on Sunday.
- The road was closed for a short time to allow crews to operate safely.
NIFRS said crews used a hose reel jet and three jets to extinguish the fire. Officers and firefighters worked side by side at the scene while the PSNI launched an investigation into the cause.
“It was reported at approximately 5.15pm that part of a vacant building was alight, in what is believed to have been a deliberate ignition. Officers attended the scene, alongside colleagues from the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service. The road was closed for a short time to allow for the fire to be extinguished. There were no reports of any injuries. Enquiries are ongoing and anyone who was in the area at the time and saw any suspicious activity, or who might have any information, CCTV or dashcam footage which might assist is asked to contact police using the witness appeal form...”
Local impact and safety concerns
The building, described by services as vacant and derelict, sits on a busy thoroughfare of Coleraine. Although no injuries were reported, fires at abandoned properties present risks to neighbouring homes, road users and the emergency crews who respond. The closure of Lodge Road for operational reasons will have caused short-term disruption for motorists and pedestrians in the area while the scene was brought under control.
This incident follows a wider pattern in some parts of Northern Ireland where unoccupied buildings can become targets for arson or anti-social behaviour. Local residents will want reassurance that steps are being taken to secure derelict sites and to identify those responsible for incidents that endanger public safety.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Location | Lodge Road, Coleraine |
| Initial report | Approximately 5.08pm–5.15pm, 27 September |
| Fire appliances | Coleraine, Portstewart, Maghera, Portrush; aerial unit from Northland (Derry/Londonderry) |
| Firefighting methods | Breathing apparatus; one hose reel jet and three jets |
| Incident closed | 10.02pm, 27 September |
| Injuries | None reported |
How to help the investigation
The PSNI has asked anyone who was in the area at the time and saw suspicious activity, or who may have CCTV or dashcam footage, to come forward. Information can be submitted via the police witness appeal form (quoting reference 1055 27/09/26) or by calling 101. Alternatively, people can contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or via their website.
Local communities are encouraged to check any private cameras or recordings and to report material that could assist investigators. The PSNI and NIFRS said the cooperation of the public can be crucial in identifying those responsible for deliberate ignitions.
The investigation remains live and officers continue to follow lines of inquiry. Further updates will be provided by the PSNI and NIFRS as enquiries progress.
