House Blaze 'Explosion' Kills Pet Dogs

A Newtownabbey man whose home was destroyed - and pet dogs killed - by a fire yesterday evening, has said he had no idea what could have been the cause of the outbreak.

He told BBC Radio Ulster this morning that a neighbour heard what she described as "an explosion" as the fire took hold - around 5pm last night - but insisted that there was "nothing in the house that might have caused it".

He said there wasn't anything - such as a gas cylinder - that might have exploded in the house and said the blaze was a mystery.

David Park, who has lived in the house for more than two decades, was out when the fire began, and was alerted after neighbours raised the alarm

He described today how he rushed back to try and save his two dogs.

But Mr Park said when he arrived at the property to save his Yorkshire Terrier and Rottweiler by police.

"I wanted to get in and get my dogs out but they wouldn't let me, probably for my own good," he said.

The devastated resident said today that he while he was thankful to be alive he said: "I've lost my pets, clothes, furniture, the lot."

A police spokesman said they are investigating the circumstances of the fire and added it was "likely to take some time before the circumstances of the fire were established".

Seven fire appliances were called to tackle the blaze and firefighters wearing breathing apparatus went into the semi-detached house, but were later withdrawn when the roof of the building began to collapse.

(BMcC)