Firefighters tackle brewery blaze

Fire engines at the former brewery

Firefighters have dealt with a blaze at a former brewery in west Belfast.

The fire is believed to have been started accidentally at the Bass Ireland site on the Glen Road.

Smoke blowing from the fire led to two local schools being evacuated and residents were advised to keep their doors and windows closed.

About 1,100 pupils from St Mary's Christian Brothers and 600 from La Salle Boys were sent home for the day.

Gordon Latimer, from the Fire and Rescue Service, said: "It's a very difficult incident, in that if you can picture one large undivided room which contains a number of storage tanks.

"Some of these storage tanks are insulated using cork and when the tanks are being decommissioned it's our belief that a fire was started in the cork lining accidentally

"Once it spread, it's very deep seated, there are large volumes of smoke that were given off. It's extremely difficult to get to and once you get to it, it's very difficult to extinguish."

About 70 firefighters, with eight fire engines and a specialist aerial appliance, tackled the blaze.

There have been no reports of any injuries.