A MAN HAS been arrested by police in Northern Ireland following a “suspicious” fire at the site of a derelict building in Belfast.

The Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service (NIFRS) was called to the building fire on Samuel Street in Belfast at around 2.40am.

Fire crews extinguished the main blaze but smoke was still seen rising from the building earlier this afternoon.

Smoke still visible from the top of a derelict building in Belfast after a fire in the early hours of Wednesday morning. Multiple fire crews at the scene between Samuel Street and North Street while police have cordoned off surrounding streets. @irish_news pic.twitter.com/JfLeHbMlSW

— Allan Preston (@AllanPreston) May 31, 2023

40 firefighters, eight officers, six fire appliances, two aerial appliances and a command support unit attended the scene. 

A number of streets were closed off and the PSNI advised motorists and members of the public to avoid the area.

However, the PSNI has since confirmed that roads have reopened. 

NIFRS Group Commander David Harbinson told UTV News:

“It’s been very challenging for us working through the night, but due to the efforts of the firefighters on scene they prevented the fire from spreading to adjoining properties so I have to commend them for that.”

One man has been arrested in relation to the incident and remains in custody at this time. 

Police enquiries are ongoing and anyone with information or who has CCTV or dash-cam footage from the area at the time of the incident are asked to contact police on 101, quoting 142 of 31/05/23. 

With reporting by Hayley Halpin