Fifty firefighters are currently tackling a huge blaze that broke out at Bombardier’s Belfast docklands factory on Sunday night.
The planemaker confirmed no workers have been injured but it is still unknown how the fire started.
Worrying news coming from Bombardier, Airport Road of a large scale fire in the factory. Praying that there have been no injuries. Emergency services appear to have it under control. The following hours will tell us of the scale of damage on site. pic.twitter.com/o628NsKuSi
— Gavin Robinson (@GRobinsonDUP) May 24, 2020
Local fire service area commander Dermott Rooney called the incident “very significant” and said his crew would be on the scene for some time.
“Obviously, we are trying to get the fire under control. It’s very early stages, we would ask members of the public to stay away from the area so they don’t hamper our efforts,” he said.
Smoke already way down. Engines still arriving at Bombardier Shorts. Very fast response from @NIFRSOFFICIAL. #Belfast #Fire pic.twitter.com/2IT9Dedkon
— Joel Neill (@joelneill) May 24, 2020
“We’ve no indication of any particular risk to the local people, but they would be well advised to keep their windows and doors closed.”
While little is known about the incident so far, dramatic images were capture by Twitter @joelneill, posted here.
Last year, Bombardier’s Northern Ireland operation was sold to Kansas-based Spirit AeroSystems for nearly $1 billion.
The business employs around 3,600 people and its roles include producing wings for Bombardier’s A220 planes.
