Arson Fire at Historic Antrim Arms Hotel, Residents Evacuated

0:00On April 20th, a massive arson fire tore through the old Antrim Arms Hotel in Bally Castle County Antrim on Sunday night, putting nearby homes at risk. The derelict building, vacant for over a decade, went up in flames around 8 p.m. drawing 42 firefighters, two aerial units and a command. Team to battle the blaze. Next door, Daddy Owen McCallan was out with his partner. Their three-week-old baby, an 18-month-old toddler when they rushed back. Smoke filled their house, so he dashed in to grab their dog, some belongings, and get everyone to safety at his in-laws, calling it a scary rush. Local folks washed and shocked as streets closed temporarily, but they've all reopened now. McCallan says it's too stressful to return until experts clear the structure, and no one got hurt, which is the big relief. The hotel's elisted spot dating back nearly 400 years with a demolition bid shot down last year. Police confirm it's deliberate arson,

1:00and want tips from anyone who saw something. Politicians like Alliance MLA, Cian Mohaland, and Sin Fein Counselor, Cara McShane, are pushing for quick fixes to make it safe, while supporting. Effective residents and businesses investigation rolls on.