Bonfire Embers Trigger Devastating Belfast Fire | Limerick News

A devastating fire tore through two homes in Greenisland, near Belfast, fueled by embers from a nearby bonfire and whipped by strong winds—sending thousands of glowing sparks raining down. Oil tanks at the back of the properties ignited, adding to the chaos. An 87-year-old resident, who’d lived there for 50 years, woke his wife and fled as flames surged. Firefighters battled the blaze with 45 crews, six pumps, and an aerial ladder, saving gas cylinders from exploding. The emotional aftermath was crushing: one family’s home—belonging to a daughter and her partner—was lost, leaving her father, Billy Withers, heartbroken and unable to enter the ruins. Officials say the fire was accidental, and the incident comes on the heels of another bonfire tragedy earlier this week, when a man died at a Belfast bonfire site. Fire crews responded to 54 bonfire-related calls across the region, including one where they had to pull back due to a hostile crowd in Cookstown. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/9bde3f7a621db4a3