More than thirty firefighters are currently battling a major building fire on the Drumwhinny Road in Kesh, County Fermanagh, prompting emergency services to shut down the road and urge the public to steer clear of the area.

The Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service was alerted to the blaze at a quarter to eight on Saturday morning, 22nd August, triggering an immediate and substantial emergency response across the district.

A total of thirty-six firefighters have been dispatched to the scene, bringing specialist equipment to bear on the structure as operations continue to bring the flames under control.

The resources committed to the site include four standard fire appliances, an aerial appliance to tackle the blaze from height, a dedicated water tanker to secure supplies, and a mobile command support unit to coordinate efforts on the ground.

Because of the size of the incident, crews have been pulled in from six separate fire stations across the wider region, with personnel attending from Enniskillen, Irvinestown, Belleek, Dromore, Northland, and Strabane.

A spokesperson for the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service confirmed the operational details, explaining: "NIFRS received a call to reports of a building fire on Drumwhinny Road, Kesh at 07:45 on Saturday 22nd August. There are currently four appliances, one water tanker, one aerial appliance, one Command Support Unit and 36 personnel in attendance from Enniskillen, Irvinestown, Belleek, Dromore, Northland and Strabane fire stations."

The fire service spokesperson added an appeal to the local community, stating: "We would ask the public to avoid the area whilst we deal with the incident."

Officers from the Police Service of Northern Ireland are also on the ground assisting with public safety and managing local traffic. A PSNI spokesperson confirmed: "The Drumwhinny Road in Kesh is closed due to a property on fire in the area. NI Fire and Rescue Service is also in attendance. Diversions are in place on the Killadeas Road and Duneaney Road. Please avoid the area."

With Drumwhinny Road completely closed, motorists traveling through this part of County Fermanagh are being diverted onto the Killadeas Road and Duneaney Road while emergency teams carry out their work. Official details regarding the precise cause of the fire or whether any injuries have occurred have not yet been released.

Emergency crews are expected to remain on the scene in Kesh until the blaze is fully extinguished and the property is made secure before roads can safely reopen. I'll be following this one.