‘There was nothing I could do – I felt numb’

‘There was nothing I could do – I felt numb’

28 May 2025

TWO houses were gutted and three others damaged after an oil tank went on fire in Drumaness last week.

Eye witnesses described the scene at Cushowen Place as an “inferno” and have praised firefighters, who spent five hours putting out the blaze.

Five appliances were sent to deal with the fire which broke out at a row of terraced houses on Tuesday afternoon.

Firefighters from Ballynahinch were joined by colleagues from neighbouring fire stations, including Downpatrick and Carryduff.

The fire started when a boiler exploded at Mr Eamonn Doyle’s home and quickly ignited an oil tank.

Mr Doyle’s house was soon engulfed in flames, which spread to the next door property belonging to Mr Roddy Fitzsimons and his wife, Elizabeth.

Both houses suffered extensive damage, while three neighbouring houses sustained smoke damage.

It is believed that a garden wall prevented the fire spreading to one of the three houses.

A clearly distressed Mr Doyle, who was in his house at the time, explained what happened.

“I was upstairs when I heard huge bang. Then I saw the flames.

“I ran downstairs and rang the Fire Brigade. I couldn’t remember the number to begin with because I was in shock.”

“When the firefighters arrived I could only watch. All I was left with were the clothes I was standing in.”

Mr Fitzsimons’ sons, Liam and Ruairi, were also in their home at the time.

Ruairi said: “I was sitting in my bedroom when I heard the bang. At first I thought it might have been an aerosol, but the bang was too loud.

“I went outside and saw the neighbour’s boiler on fire. Then the fence went on fire and the flames spread to to the oil tank.

“The fire spread really quickly, particularly when it hit the oil tank.

“Panic rather than adrenaline set in and my first thought was to get out three dogs out of the house. I then rang the Fire Brigade and told them our neighbour’s boiler had gone on fire.”

Ruairi’s father, who had been picking up his grandchildren from school, was alerted by his daughter, Michelle, who lives nearby at Mullandra Drive.

Mr Fitzsimons said he returned to find him home in flames.

“There was nothing I could do. I felt numb,” he remarked.

“This has been our home for 35 years, but it has gone up in flames. We have lost everything.”

Mr Fitzsimons praised the firefighters to their efforts.

“I can’t thank them enough for what they did in such dangerous circumstances. At one stage they ran out of water and had to pump water from the nearby dam.”

He continued: “You do not appreciate the effect things like this can have when you see this happening to other people.

“Some of the stuff that has been destroyed can be replaced, but you can’t replace memories.

“Fortunately nobody was killed or injured. Who knows what might have happened had it been in the middle of the night?”

Mr Fitzsimons and his family are currently staying with his daughter, Michelle, while Mr Doyle is also being looked after by a relative.

Both have paid tribute to their neighbours and the Drumaness community for their support in the aftermath of the fire.

A GoFundMe page has been set up and there has also been support from the Credit Union and Asda.

They are also grateful to local councillor Jim Brennan, a neighbour, Philip Rogan, who tried to put out the blaze, and the Red Cross, who were alsoin attendance.

A spokesperson for NI Fire and Rescue Service said: “Firefighters were called to reports of a property fire in Cushowen Place, Drumaness. On arrival crews were faced with a well developed fire involving an oil tank and terraced houses.

“An investigation to determine cause will follow once operations are concluded.”