Police appeal for information following suspected arson in Ballymena

Detectives are appealing for information after a fire, believed to have been started deliberately, caused extensive damage to a property in the Dunclug Gardens area of Ballymena in the early hours of Sunday morning.

Emergency services were alerted shortly before 4:30am on Sunday, 4 May.

Upon arrival, Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service (NIFRS) crews found the residential property engulfed in flames. Firefighters from Ballymena and Antrim swiftly tackled the blaze using breathing apparatus and hose reel jets.

According to a NIFRS spokesperson:

“Crews extinguished the fire using breathing apparatus and hose reel jets. They also prevented the fire from spreading to an adjacent property. No one was injured at the incident.”

Detective Constable Harrington confirmed that police and fire crews attended the scene and that the incident is being treated as arson.

“We received a report shortly before 4:30am on Sunday morning that smoke was coming from a residential property in the Dunclug Gardens area. On arrival the property was well alight with extensive damage,” said DC Harrington.

“Officers attended alongside colleagues from Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue, who extinguished the fire.”

DC Harrington revealed that: “A further report has established that windows were smashed at this property at approximately 11:00pm on Saturday, 3rd May.”

Fortunately, the property was unoccupied at the time of the incident, and there were no reported injuries.

“Thankfully, nobody was in the property at this time and no one was injured during this attack,” added the detective.

Enquiries remain ongoing, and detectives are urging anyone who may have witnessed suspicious activity in the area or who may hold relevant video footage to come forward.

“Enquiries are ongoing and the incident is being treated as deliberate ignition. We are appealing to anyone with any information or to anyone with CCTV, doorbell footage, dashcam or other video footage that could assist the investigation to get in touch on 101 quoting reference number 280 of 04/05/25,” said DC Harrington.

Information can also be submitted online via the Police Service of Northern Ireland’s non-emergency reporting form, or anonymously through Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or crimestoppers-uk.org.

The swift response by fire crews ensured that the blaze was contained and prevented from spreading to adjacent homes, avoiding potential further damage and injury.