And amid the flames danger lurked for firefighters as lorry tyres exploded in the searing heat sending tyres and tin cladding hurtling into the air.

There were no reports of injuries among staff at the lorry yard or amongst firefighters.

Over 40 firefighters, part of ten crews, raced to the yard at Mill Street in the town where flames leapt as high as 100ft producing smoke so dense, one eyewitness said: "The sky turned black and the sun was even blocked out. The Castle Street area was cloaked in grey."

The workshop was gutted and a lorry cab unit damaged during the 11.15am fire drama last Thursday which saw nearby roads sealed off by police. Unofficial estimates put the damage at over £200,000.

Fire chiefs and police said they were treating the blaze as accidental.
Quick-witted staff were able to get acetylene gas tanks clear of the flames which prevented the Fire Service from having to evacuate nearby homes and declare a 200 metre, 24 hour, exclusion zone.

As firefighters continued to dampen down the flames Fire & Rescue personnel were also frantically working with government officials to contain a significant amount of diesel which leaked into the nearby river.

At one stage during the drama a loud explosion was heard across the town which is believed to have been an exploding tyre.
It is understood a tyre blew out onto a tin sheeted roof causing debris to blow out some 60ft away and around eight cars parked in a public carpark at Fairhill Street received some minor damage.
Again there were no reports of injuries in the car park.

Assistant Group Commander Colin Dickson from the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service said it was the worst fire in Ballycastle this year.
As he travelled from Ballymena he said he could see a pall of smoke from Cloughmills, some 15 miles away.

He said employees were able to get out of the yard without any reports of injury and he praised staff for the removal of the acetylene cutting gear.
Fire crews came from areas including Maghera, Kilrea, Coleraine, Ballymoney, Cushendall, Carnlough as well as Ballycastle attended.
One theory under investigation is that the fire was caused by a spark from welding equipment. It is understood workers attempted to tackle the fire with a fire extinguisher but were beaten back by the flames.

Sergeant Colin Shaw of Ballycastle PSNI said: "We sealed off roads in the area but did not have to evacuate anyone from their homes although Moyle Council were on standby had we needed to do that. It is very fortunate no one was injured in this fire which we are treating as accidental."

Ballycastle Sinn Fein Councillors, Cathal Newcombe and Cara McShane, praised the emergency services for their rapid response
Cllr Cathal Newcombe said: "I want to commend the emergency services for their quick response to the incident.

"I was at the scene and although there appears to be extensive material damage, it is a welcome relief that there have been no reported injuries to individuals at this stage."
Cllr Cara McShane added: "This latest incident again heightens the necessity for the Minister to reappraise the proposals to downgrade the Fire Service provision in Ballycastle.

"I will be writing to the Minister of Health to appraise him of this incident and to seek assurances that the current Fire response facilities within Ballycastle will be maintained at its present level."