THE NI fire and Rescue service has been praised for containing a huge blaze in Co Armagh that left nearby residents "terrified" in their homes.
The fire was reported shortly after 10pm on Saturday at business premises at Blackisland Road in Annaghmore, outside Poartadown.
It centred on a number of hay bales at the site, and at its height the blaze saw over 55 firefighters tasked to contain it.
The NI Fire and Rescue Service sent six appliances from Portadown and firefighters remained at the scene into yesterday morning.
NIFRS Group Commander Mark Smith said the blaze was continuing due to a "large quantity of hay on fire and this takes a long time just to extinguish".
He added that an investigation into the cause of the fire would get underway when it was fully extinguished.
A PSNI spokesperson said its officers and firefighters believed "a large amount of hay bales sparked ignition resulting in the blaze".
Police added yesterday: "A substantial amount of monetary damage has been caused. Our colleagues from the Fire Service remain at the scene and are expected to as they continue to control the fire. There are no further details at this time."
Portadown DUP councillor Darryn Causby told the Irish News: "This is devastating for the business involved and I want to praise the NI Fire and Rescue Service for containing the blaze, despite its size, and preventing it spreading further.
"I know that residents were terrified during this inferno, but thankfully it was finally brought under control."
Meanwhile, two cars were destroyed and two others extensively damaged during a separate incident in Portadown in the early hours of yesterday.
A report of four cars being on fire in the Derrycarne area of the town was made to emergency services at around 1.50am.
The blaze was soon extinguished, but two of the vehicles were "completely gutted" a PSNI spokesperson said.
"Damage was also caused to the front of a nearby property in the area as a result of the fire spreading. Thankfully, there were no reports of any injuries. Colleagues from Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service attended and extinguished the blaze," the spokesperson said.
"Our enquiries into the incident, which we are treating as arson, are ongoing. We are appealing to anyone who was in the area at the time and may have witnessed any suspicious activity to contact police on 101, quoting reference number 176 of 07/08/22."