28/11/2006

East Belfast fire treated as 'suspicious'

Police believe that a fire at a block of flats in east Belfast in the early hours of this morning may have been started deliberately.

The Fire and Rescue Service was called to the scene of the blaze at the building in the Grace Avenue area, close to Bloomfield Avenue at about 2.45am after receiving reports of residents being trapped by the flames.

Fire-fighters using breathing apparatus entered the building and rescued three people who had become trapped on the second floor.

No one was injured during the incident.

It is understood that the blaze started in a stairwell.

A spokesman for the Fire and Rescue Service said: "I don't want to say too much about the fire itself because the police are still investigating - it may be suspicious."

Anyone with any information in connection with the blaze should contact the police on 0845 600 8000 or anonymously on the Crimestoppers number on 0800 555 111.

(EF)


Related Northern Ireland News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.

17 September 2014
Community Fire Station Opens In Omagh
Public Safety Minister Edwin Poots has opened a new £4.4m Community Fire Station in Omagh, County Tyrone. The new Community Fire Station & District Headquarters on the Killybrack Road includes onsite facilities for firefighter training and transport and engineering workshops.
02 April 2012
NI's Chief Fire Officer Announces His Retirement
The Chief Fire Officer for Northern Ireland, Peter Craig, has announced that he is to retire after over 35 years of distinguished Service. Peter Craig is one of the longest serving officers in Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service and was appointed as Chief Fire Officer in February 2011, having been the acting Chief from July 2010.
17 July 2001
ASSEMBLY CREATE AWARD TO HONOUR FIRE SERVICE
THE Northern Ireland Fire Service is to receive the first ever award given by the province's devolved assembly. An illuminated scroll is to be presented to Chief Fire Officer John McClelland on Tuesday, by assembly speaker Lord Alderdice in tribute to the sacrifice made by fire fighters over the years.
23 April 2004
Fire crews deal with separate fires in Co Antrim
Police are appealing for information following two suspicious fires in Co Antrim in the early hours of Friday morning. The first fire was discovered at a factory unit in north Belfast at around 12 midnight. It is believed the blaze started when paper inside the unit was set alight. Some windows and two other units were damaged in the fire.
28 August 2007
Fire Service Rescue Man From Newtownards Fire
A man was rescued by fire crews from a fire at his County Down home in the early hours of Sunday morning. Fire crews wearing breathing equipment rescued the man from a ground floor flat at Bristol Park in Newtownards and he has since been taken to hospital where he is being treated for the effects of breathing in smoke.