Two family homes in Greenisland, County Antrim, have been destroyed and two further properties damaged following a fire believed to have been caused by embers from a nearby Eleventh Night bonfire. The Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service (NIFRS) confirmed it received 303 emergency calls and responded to 151 operational incidents, 54 of which were bonfire-related, between 6pm on Saturday and 2am on Sunday.
Davy Haighton, a retired great-grandfather, told reporters that everything he owned, including clothes, money, documents, and decades of family memories, was lost in the blaze at his Knockleigh Walk home, where he had lived for 56 years. His wife, who has mobility issues, had to be evacuated without using her stairlift for safety reasons. The adjacent house, belonging to Billy Withers' daughter, was also gutted, with all her possessions destroyed.
The NIFRS deployed 45 firefighters to tackle the extensive fire, which also spread to several oil tanks and a shed. The first call regarding the incident in Knockleigh Walk was received just before 12:15am on Sunday. Following an investigation, the NIFRS stated that the most probable cause of the fire was accidental ignition due to embers from a nearby bonfire, which residents reported seeing lit at midnight, with sparks and soot quickly spreading towards the houses.
The Eleventh Night bonfires are a traditional part of the loyalist commemorations leading up to the Orange Order's Twelfth of July parades. While many pass without incident, the NIFRS's significant call volume highlights the inherent risks associated with these large fires. A spokesperson for the NIFRS conveyed their thoughts to those affected and thanked partner agencies and the community for their support of the displaced families.
With further bonfires anticipated as part of the ongoing Twelfth of July celebrations, the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service has reiterated its commitment, stating it is "prepared and ready to respond to all types of emergencies" across the region. The incident in Greenisland serves as a stark reminder of the potential for severe property damage and personal loss linked to these cultural events.