Firefighters extinguished a fire at a car showroom and cafe on Carhill Road near Garvagh, County Londonderry, after a call at 4:30 BST on Wednesday. The Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service believes the fire was deliberate.

NIFRS western area commander David Doherty stated the building was completely gutted, with six cars destroyed and four others damaged by heat and smoke. Fire crews found the fire well-developed on arrival.

At the peak, 55 firefighters attended with six appliances from Maghera, Kilrea, Dungiven, Ballymoney, and Coleraine stations. Support included an aerial ladder appliance from Northland Station, a command support unit from Strabane Station, and a water tanker from Dungiven Station.

Crews used firefighting jets and an aerial ladder jet. The incident was under control by 7:47am, though firefighters managed hotspots afterward.

Doherty noted hazards from cylinders, oils, and aerosols due to the site's scale. He said the destruction represented a significant loss to the local economy.

DUP councillor Michelle Knight-McQuillan said two businesses were completely devastated, leading to job losses.