Northern Ireland

Fire at Fermanagh shed which destroyed eight boilers was accidental

The fire-damaged shed in Fermanagh, which contained eight biomass boilers and 14 tonnes of woodchip. Picture by BBC
The fire-damaged shed in Fermanagh, which contained eight biomass boilers and 14 tonnes of woodchip. Picture by BBC The fire-damaged shed in Fermanagh, which contained eight biomass boilers and 14 tonnes of woodchip. Picture by BBC

A fire which destroyed eight biomass boilers along with a "large quantity of woodchip" in a shed in Co Fermanagh is being treated as accidental.

Fire crews from across the county tackled the large blaze for almost six hours last Friday morning in the Magherdunbar area outside Enniskillen.

The shed, approximately 20m x 12m, contained around 14 tonnes of woodchip and eight boilers, the Fire and Rescue Service said.

"Firefighters worked to extinguish the fire, however a large quantity of woodchip and the eight boilers were destroyed. The shed was badly damaged."

Yesterday fire officers were still at the site conducting investigations and in update confirmed that "the fire in the shed is being treated as accidental".

It is not clear whether the boilers had been operating with subsidies from the Renewable Heat Incentive scheme.

There are two active businesses listed at the Fermanagh site, according to Companies House - construction firm Drumco Limited and Corby Biomass Systems Limited.

The latter has two directors with addresses in Co Leitrim and the business is described as the "manufacture of other products of wood; manufacture of articles of cork, straw and plaiting materials".

It is believed the company rented the shed and part of the premises from Drumco and the wood boilers were first installed in around October 2015.