25/07/2007

Family escape fire at Belfast flats

A man and his two daughters have been rescued from a fire at a block of flats in west Belfast.

The family were trapped on the first floor of the block on Suffolk Road this morning when the blaze started in the stairwell of the building.

Alan Walmsley, a firefighter at the scene, said the family had a lucky escape and their injuries were minor but they were shocked following their ordeal.

The Fire Service said it was treating the early morning blaze as suspicious, and police have begun an investigation.

(SB/SP)

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

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.
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.
20 July 2010
UK-Born Limerick Fireman Compensated
An English-born firefighter has been awarded €5,000 in compensation for discrimination by Limerick City Council. An Equality Tribunal heard Martin Mannering, now living in Cappamore, Co Limerick was left a note to leave his job because he was no longer "in Middlesbrough".