Local woman 'critical' after house fire

It is believed that the woman is in her 50s and was not breathing when she was initially taken from her home on the Glenkeen Road in Aghadowey at shortly after 10pm.

The woman received oxygen and CPR until she was stable enough to be moved.

The fire station commander Charlie McCauley said the woman was unconscious when the emergency services arrived at the house which was extensively damaged by the blaze.

A man who had tried to rescue the woman from the bungalow was also taken to hospital and was last night described as “stable and comfortable”.

Investigations are continuing but the Fire and Rescue Service believe the blaze was accidental.

“We couldn’t find any smoke detection in the house and I would appeal to the public to please get a home fire safety check done and to fit a smoke alarm,” said Commander McCauley.

In a statement, the Fire and Rescue Service said four fire engines from Ballymoney, Kilrea and Coleraine attended the fire.

“Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus entered the house and carried out an extensive search for the occupant.

“A female casualty, aged 56, was located and brought outside. Firefighters assisted paramedics at the scene before she was transferred to the Causeway Hospital in Coleraine,” a spokesperson for the emergency services said.

The cause of the fire has not yet been determined.