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Fire at old school in Dungannon treated as arson

Eight mobile classrooms burned down
Eight mobile classrooms burned down Eight mobile classrooms burned down

POLICE are treating as arson a fire that destroyed mobile classrooms at a former school.

Eight mobile classrooms burned down at the old St Patrick's Academy building in Dungannon.

St Patrick's is due to move into new premises next month.

Residents living nearby had received letters to say the old building would be demolished via a controlled explosion.

Officers were called to the scene shortly after 8pm on Sunday. The fire was brought under control at about 2.15am yesterday.

More than 40 firefighters were involved and they prevented the blaze from spreading to the main building.

The fire service said if it was deliberate, it was a "mindless act that put firefighters' lives in danger".

Max Joyce said the smoke plume that could be seen from miles away.

"We often find that where there is derelict property, not secured or whatever, there is an opportunity for fire starting," Mr Joyce said.

"But what I'm saying to those people is that they need to think about the consequences - not only could they hurt themselves in setting the fire, but they could hurt members of the public or firefighters who are out there to serve their local community."