Northern Ireland

Bonfire material including tyres torched in Co Derry

Material had been left by the side of the road outside Tobermore

A fire including tyres at the junction of Brackaghlislea Road and Kilcronaghan Road near Tobermore.
The smouldering remains of bonfire material outside Tobermore in Co Derry, which was set alight earlier this week.
By Paul Ainsworth

A large quantity of material including rubber tyres intended for use in a bonfire has been set alight in Co Derry.

The blaze outside Tobermore happened between Monday evening and Tuesday morning, and saw the tyres, rubbish and wood torched where it sat at the junction of the Kilcronaghan Road and Brackaghlislea Road.

The charred remains contained steel wires, which are used in rubber tyres, alongside tyres that were not fully burned.

A fire including tyres at the junction of Brackaghlislea Road and Kilcronaghan Road near Tobermore.
The bonfire material had been placed at the Brackaghlislea Road and Kilcronaghan Road junction.

Mid-Ulster DUP councillor Anne Ford said: “The material had been left by the side of the road, where it has been left in previous years for a bonfire there.

“Someone has come in during the night and set it alight, and it has been smouldering since.”

The Irish News approached the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service for comment.

A PSNI spokesperson said police had not received any report relating to the fire.