Dunmurry: Woman dies in third fatal house fire in 24 hours in Northern Ireland
A woman has died following the third fatal house fire in Northern Ireland within 24 hours.
Emergency services were called to the scene of an ongoing fire at a property at Areema Drive in Dunmurry at around 3.50am on Saturday.
A woman, aged in her 40s, was pronounced deceased at the scene.
A man aged in his 50s, a 19-year-old woman, and 11-year-old girl who were also in the property, were taken to hospital for treatment to smoke inhalation after being able to ‘self-rescue’.
The Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service (NIFRS) said the occupants had been alerted by smoke alarms.
Two appliances from Lisburn Fire Station and one from Cadogan Fire Station attended the incident. Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus entered the property and utilised hose reel jets and thermal imaging equipment to extinguish the fire.
A NIFRS said the cause of the fire is under investigation and firefighters left the scene at 7.04am.
"Sadly this is the third loss of life within the last 24 hours. It unusual to have so many house fire fatalities over such a brief period but we have seen a rise in this type of incident this year,” a NIFRS spokesperson said.
A man in his 20s died at the scene of a fire at a flat at Queen Victoria Gardens in the Fortwilliam area of north Belfast on Friday morning.
Later on the same day, a woman, aged in her 50s, died in a house fire in Abbey Park, Bangor.
The latest tragedy has once again prompted the NIFRS to urge everyone to think of fire safety.
" NIFRS would implore everyone to think of fire safety this holiday period heeding our Safe for the Season messaging,” a spokesperson said.
- Don’t overload plug sockets and stick to 1 plug per socket. Always remember to switch off and unplug the lights before leaving your home or going to bed. If you have a real Christmas tree, make sure it is well hydrated, as a dry tree becomes more flammable.
- Christmas dinners and parties can be one of the best parts of the holiday season. Always avoid cooking while under the influence of alcohol, and ensure there are no dishtowels, packaging or paper near the hob. Remember to turn appliances off when you are finished using them or if you need to leave the room.
- Keep candles away from curtains and decorations and when possible, opt for battery-operated candles instead.
- Homes can become very crowded at Christmas. Therefore, it’s important to ensure all escape routes are clear of any decorations or gifts and that everyone staying with you during the festive season is aware of the fire escape plan in case of an emergency.
- It’s vital that every home is protected with working smoke and carbon monoxide alarms. Smoke alarms give an early warning if a fire breaks out, so they should be fitted on every level of your home. Any room with a fuel-burning appliance, such as a gas boiler, fireplace or wood-burning stove, should have a working carbon monoxide alarm. Carbon monoxide is invisible and odourless, so having an alarm in these rooms is essential.
- We encourage everyone to think of others this holiday season. Check in on vulnerable family, friends and neighbours to ensure they stay safe this season too.