Firefigthers who undertook a room-by-room search at the height of last night’s major fire at the former St Peter’s High School displayed bravery beyond the call of duty, the city’s mayor has said.
Assistant group commander Mark Smyth
Up to 50 firefighters from Derry, Strabane and Limavady spent over three hours tackling the blaze, which was started deliberately.
During the incident at the former 40-year-old secondary school, 16 firefighters carried out an extensive search of the building on arriving at the scene.
Wearing breathing apparatus and assisted by searchlights, they carried out a room-to-room search after it was brought to their attention a number of children were thought to be in the burning and may have been overcome by smoke. Thankfully, the building was discovered to be empty and none of the firefighters injured.
Condemning those responsible, Mayor Reilly, said lives “could have been lost” and praised the emergency services for their bravery.
Commending the bravery of all the members of the emergency services who attended the scene, he said it was the bravery of the search party that stood out.
Speaking after visiting the scene at Foyle Hill on the edge of the Creggan Estate, he said those involved in the painstaking search had put their lives on the line to save children.
He said: “I would like to pay tribute to the PSNI and the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Services officer-in-charge of the incident, Assistant Group Commander Mark Smyth.
“In commending the bravery of his team, who not only battled with the blaze for a number of hours, they also risked their own live by entering the burning building to ensure it was not occupied at the time.”
Mayor Reilly added: “This act of mindless vandalism was carried out by a number of irresponsible people intent on destroying communities and risking the lives of the support services who work tirelessly to ensure the public remain safe.”
There are plans to develop 127 homes on the site and Mayor Reilly revealed he had spoken to the Western Education and Library Board who confirmed to him they had handed the site back to the owners.
Mayor Reilly supported the countless calls now being made for the building to be demolished.
He said: “It is now the responsibly of these owners to push ahead with plans for demolishing and redevelopment as a matter of urgency and to ensure the site is adequately closed off and secured imminently.
He concluded: “Residents in this community cannot be expected to live with the fear of the next arson attack or spate of anti-social activity which has vacant building has attracted.”
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