Traffic was diverted on the Antrim Road as emergency crews dealt with a fire at a flat in north Belfast on Friday, with motorists warned to find alternative routes. The incident brought a substantial Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service response and remained active after crews were alerted shortly before noon.
The location is on the Antrim Road, a major route through the north Belfast area, and the police advice focused on the immediate effect on road users rather than providing a wider assessment of the incident. The PSNI said officers and firefighters were attending a report of a property fire, while asking drivers to stay away from the affected section of road. No information about injuries, casualties or the cause of the fire was included in the updates available.
Emergency response
Fire service resources sent to the scene included five appliances. Two were from Whitla Fire Station, with further appliances dispatched from Westland and Cadogan. An aerial appliance from Knock Fire Station was also present, giving crews access to equipment designed for work at height. The attendance reflected the seriousness of the response, although the available reports did not state the size of the fire, whether the building was evacuated or the extent of any damage.
| Service or location | Response recorded |
|---|---|
| Whitla Fire Station | Two fire appliances |
| Westland Fire Station | One fire appliance |
| Cadogan Fire Station | One fire appliance |
| Knock Fire Station | One aerial appliance |
Advice to motorists
The road restrictions formed the clearest immediate consequence for the public. Drivers approaching the scene were advised not to continue through the area and to plan alternative journeys. Traffic diversions can have a disproportionate effect on a principal urban route, particularly when emergency vehicles require room to operate, but no details were provided about the length of the closure or when normal traffic movements would resume.
“Police and colleagues from Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service are currently in attendance following a report of a fire at a property at the Antrim Road area of north Belfast on Friday 13th November. Motorists are advised to avoid the area and seek alternative routes for their journey.”
The statement underlined that the operation was still under way. Firefighters from several stations were working alongside the PSNI, whose role included managing the public-safety and traffic implications around the scene. The presence of an aerial appliance indicates that crews were equipped for a response involving the building itself, but the authorities had not released a detailed account of how the fire started or how many people were in the flat.
Further information awaited
For residents and people travelling between Belfast and the wider Antrim Road area, the practical message remained unchanged: avoid the incident site until emergency services have finished their work and road restrictions are lifted. The reports did not confirm whether anyone had been taken to hospital, whether neighbouring properties were affected or whether the premises could be reoccupied.
Updates are expected to depend on the outcome of the firefighting operation and any subsequent assessment by the relevant authorities. Until then, the combination of an ongoing building fire and a multi-station emergency response means the Antrim Road should be treated as unsuitable for through traffic near the scene. The PSNI’s alternative-route advice remains the only specific travel guidance issued in the available information.
- Incident: Fire at a flat on the Antrim Road in north Belfast.
- Response: Five Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service appliances attended.
- Travel: Motorists were told to avoid the area and use alternative routes.
