A full investigation has been launched after a fire broke out at an unfinished housing development in Derry on Tuesday night.
Police and the Northern Ireland Fire Service (NIFRS) said that a 'full investigation' will be carried out in the coming days to determine the cause of the fire in the Dunfield Terrace area.
The blaze was reported to the emergency service around 8.10pm, with police condoning off the scene to allow NIFRS to safely access the scene.
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MyDerry spoke with residents last month, hearing how the site had 'become a hub for young people to gather and cause anti-social behaviour'.
Felicity McCaul, who is a resident, said that locals had tried to warn statutory bodies 'on numerous occasions that something like this was going to occur'.
"We are just so thankful, all of the residents, that nobody was hurt inside those homes last night. This could have been so much different.
"We pleaded time and time again with people who had the power to secure this site but they didn't listen to us.
"This was a realisation of our worst fear," she added. "There had been a small fire the night before.
"We had become afraid for the last few months because this site had become so bad with anti-social behaviour and vandalism.
"And when the fire started last night, it took hold very quickly. It was fully ablaze around 9pm last night. The heat was so fierce that there was a concern because there were oil tanks close by and it was thought that homes would have to be evacuated.
"There's a huge clean-up operation occurring today because residents' windows blew out and they've had to make arrangements to get them fixed.
"We need the council now to step in and deal with this site appropriately. We were always told that if this site posed a genuine safety or health threat that it would be demolished. It's almost flattened [due to the fire] at this stage but something needs to be done."
Police in Derry are now appealing for appealing for anyone who witnessed the beginning of the fire to contact them.
In a statement, Inspector Swanson said: "This was a significant blaze. Thankfully, there have been no reports of anyone being injured. If not for the work of the NIFRS, however, the outcome could have been different for residents in the immediate area and their homes.
"As enquiries in relation to the cause of the blaze continue, we're appealing to anyone who was in the area from around 8pm and saw any suspicious behaviour, or has information which could assist our enquiries, to get in touch."
NIFRS said that three fire appliances attended the scene, with the incident was dealt with just after midnight on Wednesday, June 22.
A spokesperson said: "Firefighters were called to a fire in four derelict three-storey terrace houses.
"Firefighters used 3 jets to extinguish the fire. The incident was dealt with by 00.23am on Wednesday 22 June and the cause of the fire is under investigation."
Meanwhile, local elected representatives have also condemned the fire, praising the emergency services for their "swift and professional actions".
Top of the Hill and Sinn Fein councillor, Christopher Jackson, said that 'engagement was now needed between the local council and the owners of the site.
When I attended the fire last night I have to say, I wasn't surprised," Cllr Jackson said. "There have been numerous attempts to set fire to these homes over recent months.
"It was only a matter of time, and while it's disappointing and without justification, this fire could have easily been avoided.
"All of the statutory bodies that I spoke with about these buildings shared the view that this was a tragedy waiting to happen. I want to commend the actions of the emergency services. Their swift action stopped this fire from spreading to other nearby properties.
This could have been a lot worse and there now needs to now be proper engagement between the owners of the site and the council."
SDLP Cllr Sean Mooney added: “Residents have been calling for the derelict houses at Dunfield Terrace to be demolished for some time due to safety concerns and the site becoming a hub for anti-social behaviour.
"Despite this, nobody wanted to see the site cleared in this way and while I’m glad that nobody was injured, minimal damage was caused to houses in the surrounding area as a result of this fire.
“The long-running saga at Dunfield Terrace underlines the need for council to be granted more powers to intervene in cases like this, where sites have lain dormant for an extended period and it is causing problems for the local community.
"I’d like to thank the fire service for their efforts in extinguishing this blaze and I hope that we can see the site secured as soon as possible and an end to the anti-social behaviour that has plagued residents."
A spokesperson for Derry City and Strabane District Council said that officers visited the site today and have been liaising with partners and owners of the site to ensure it has been made safe and secure.
The spokesperson said: "A full investigation will be carried out by partners to establish the cause of the fire.
"This has been an ongoing issue and Council officers have been engaging regularly with the owners, the Dunfield Residents Association, elected members and stakeholders, to find a resolution.
"An enforcement notice was recently served on the property owners regarding the ongoing problems with anti-social behaviour to ensure that action was taken to secure the boundary of the site.
"The Council's Planning department are also investigating the site regarding alleged unauthorised development at the site.
"We would urge parents in the area to keep children away from the site and to warn them of the dangers of entering derelict buildings and the risk of serious injury."
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