Two homes were destroyed, and damage was caused to additional properties.
10:44, 12 Jul 2026Updated 13:36, 12 Jul 2026
Two homes were completely destroyed in Greenisland on Saturday night with damage caused to a further two properties
Two homes were destroyed and damage caused to additional properties after a fire close to an Eleventh Night bonfire.
It comes as firefighters dealt with more than 300 emergency calls as bonfires were lit across Northern Ireland on Saturday night.
An investigation is underway after one incident in Greenisland, close to Carrickfergus in Co Antrim, where firefighters dealt with a row of terraced houses on fire in the Knockleigh Walk area, along with two oil tanks and a shed.
The Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service says the most probable cause is thought to be accidental and investigations remain ongoing.
A NIFRS spokesperson said: “NIFRS received a number of calls to attend a fire at Knockleigh Walk, Greenisland Carrickfergus, the first call being received at 00.13Hrs on 12th July 2026. At the height of the incident the fire involved a number of properties in a row of houses, several oil tanks and a shed.
“NIFRS had 45 firefighting personnel on scene, six pumping appliances, a Command Support Unit and an Aerial ladder. five firefighting jets were in use alongside an aerial water tower. Some residents had to be evacuated from their properties, and our thoughts are with those who have been affected.
“NIFRS would like to thank local partner agencies and the community for their help in support of the displaced families.”
A PSNI spokesperson added: “Police provided assistance to colleagues at the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service following a report of fire damage caused to properties in the Knockleigh Walk area of Greenisland.
“The report for assistance was made to police at approximately 12.20am this morning, Sunday 12th July.”
The PSNI said the fire “has been deemed accidental at this time”.
East Antrim Alliance Party MLA Stewart Dickson expressed his deepest sympathies to the families whose homes were burned down in Greenisland last night
Mr Dickson said: “I’d like to express my deepest sympathies to those whose homes were tragically burned down last night. I’d like to express my thanks to the wonderful neighbours who opened their homes to the families whose homes were destroyed last night.
“The whole Greenisland community really rallied around the victims of the fire. I’d also like to thank the Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service and all other agencies involved in getting the situation under control.
“Thankfully, no one was hurt or injured; however, this has been an extremely distressing situation for the entire community in Greenisland, in which I live, and what we need now is a full and thorough investigation into exactly what caused this fire.”
Two homes were completely destroyed in Greenisland on Saturday night with damage caused to a further two properties
Separately, firefighters had to withdraw from a bonfire in Cookstown, Co Tyrone, as a result of a hostile crowd. In Belfast, a garage caught fire after flames spread from a bonfire.
NIFRS Area Commander Dermot Rooney said operational activity was “consistently high” across Saturday night and into Sunday morning.
He said: “We received 303 emergency calls between the hours of 6pm 11 July and 2am 12 July 2026. This resulted in firefighters attending 151 operational incidents – 54 of these were bonfire-related.
“On Milner Street, Belfast, firefighters dealt with a garage fire following fire spread from a bonfire. In an isolated incident, firefighters withdrew from a bonfire in the Cookstown area as a result of a hostile crowd.
“Firefighters also responded to other incidents across the night including accidental house fires in Antrim and Coleraine and an articulated lorry fire in Newry.”
A bonfire burns at Roden Street in Belfast in the early hours of Sunday as part of events marking the Twelfth of July(Image: Liam McBurney/PA Wire)
Mr Rooney thanked firefighters, regional control centre personnel and support employees for delivering the emergency response.
He said: “With further bonfires planned, we are prepared and ready to respond to all types of emergencies. We would encourage everyone to stay safe and make responsible choices throughout the remainder of the bank holiday weekend.
“With warm, dry weather continuing, we also ask anyone spending time outdoors to follow our countryside fire safety advice.”
A number of the traditional Eleventh Night bonfires were lit across Northern Ireland late on Friday and Saturday, and further pyres will be ignited on Sunday evening.
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