Fire damages Belfast college

Two firefighters were injured in a fire that swept through a college today.

Several units were called to Union Theological College, in south Belfast, to battle the fire, which is being treated as suspicious.

Two firefighters were treated at the scene after molten roof metal dripped on to them, but their injuries are not believed to be serious.

Northern Ireland Fire Brigade said crews had attended an earlier small fire at the college, in Botanic Avenue, in the early hours of the morning.

Chris Kerr, group commander, said: “We are treating the fire at this stage as suspicious until we can definitively confirm the cause.”

The fire was in a part of the college known as the Principal’s House, which is undergoing multimillion-pound renovation works.

The fire quickly spread and engulfed the building, with up to 50 firefighters and eight units battling to get it under control. It is understood several students had to be evacuated.

The college, part of Queens University, was founded in 1853 with students from across the world attending.

PA