Fire at Derry fuel business started "deliberately"

The owners of a local fuel company say their livelihood almost went up in flames after a lorry was set alight. 

Gillen Fuels said a people broke into the premises on the Heather Road and vandalised a lorry.

The Creggan yard is filled with highly flammable liquids including kerosene, gas oil and bottled gas.

Crews from the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service spent forty minutes tackling the blaze. which they say was started deliberately.

Councillor Colly Kelly visited the yard on Saturday morning following the attack, he said the owners were shocked:

"They don't know why this has happened, there was no reason behind it. 

"They just go about their work, providing a service to the community and this is not needed or wanted in the Creggan area.

"They employ local people and they're from the Creggan area so this really is a local, community-orientated business.

"The people here don't want these sort of attacks, there's anger out there and digust."

A DAF lorry suffered "Substantial damage" in the attack as well as a JCB front loader.

In a statement the company described the attack as "disgusting", adding:

"It is sad that you can't lock the gates of your business after a hard days work and for your property to be left alone. 

"We are a small family run business who work hard to provide a good service to the people of the town, a business that has been operating many years and does so much for local charities and people.

"It is disgusting that people can enter our property and vandalise our lorries and then set it on fire. 

"The lorry was parked next to numerous oil lorries with kerosene on board and if that fire had not been contained in time our whole livelihood would have been up in flames not to mention the businesses on either side of us.

"Someone could have been seriously hurt but thankfully no one WAS hurt and we would like to thank the fire service [who] acted so quickly.

"To those who entered our property and done this CCTV will be checked and police are on the matter."

Police are appealing for anyone who witnessed the incident or anyone with any information that can assist with the investigation to contact officers in Strand Road on 101 quoting reference number 1445 of 21/10/16. Information can also be passed anonymously via the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.