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Version 7 Version 8
Five-year-old critical after fire Five-year-old critical after fire
(about 20 hours later)
A five-year-old girl remains in a critical condition in hospital after a house fire in west Belfast.A five-year-old girl remains in a critical condition in hospital after a house fire in west Belfast.
Four other children and their grandmother were rescued after the blaze broke out on the Springfield Road at about midnight on Tuesday.Four other children and their grandmother were rescued after the blaze broke out on the Springfield Road at about midnight on Tuesday.
They are in a stable condition at the Royal Victoria Hospital. Three other adults were treated for injuries.They are in a stable condition at the Royal Victoria Hospital. Three other adults were treated for injuries.
The children had been staying with their grandmother who raised the alarm after her smoke detector went off.The children had been staying with their grandmother who raised the alarm after her smoke detector went off.
At this stage, the fire service believes the blaze was started accidentally.At this stage, the fire service believes the blaze was started accidentally.
'Trapped''Trapped'
William Laverty, of the Fire and Rescue Service, said: "The two fathers of the children had rescued four of the children and attempted, unfortunately in vain, to get to the fifth child, but because of the thick, acrid smoke they just could not get into the house.William Laverty, of the Fire and Rescue Service, said: "The two fathers of the children had rescued four of the children and attempted, unfortunately in vain, to get to the fifth child, but because of the thick, acrid smoke they just could not get into the house.
"She was trapped in a first-floor bedroom. She was very quickly located and transported to hospital.""She was trapped in a first-floor bedroom. She was very quickly located and transported to hospital."
Mr Laverty said the smoke alarm saved the family's lives.Mr Laverty said the smoke alarm saved the family's lives.
"If there had been no working smoke alarm, which costs less than £5, we would be looking at five fatalities today," he said."If there had been no working smoke alarm, which costs less than £5, we would be looking at five fatalities today," he said.
The adults who were taken to hospital included the two fathers, a mother and the grandmother. The children are aged from five to 12 years old.The adults who were taken to hospital included the two fathers, a mother and the grandmother. The children are aged from five to 12 years old.
Three fire engines and seven ambulances attended the scene.Three fire engines and seven ambulances attended the scene.
Mr Flynn said the house was filled with dense smokeMr Flynn said the house was filled with dense smoke
Neighbour Thomas Flynn described how parents and neighbours tried to rescue the children.Neighbour Thomas Flynn described how parents and neighbours tried to rescue the children.
"They got the rest of them, four of them, out. But the young child was in bed. Everybody tried to get into the house but they got as far as the first step and they had to come back because the smoke was so dense."They got the rest of them, four of them, out. But the young child was in bed. Everybody tried to get into the house but they got as far as the first step and they had to come back because the smoke was so dense.
"The fire brigade came and we told them that there was a child unaccounted for in bed. They got their gear on and moved up the stairs. After five or ten minutes they got the child down.""The fire brigade came and we told them that there was a child unaccounted for in bed. They got their gear on and moved up the stairs. After five or ten minutes they got the child down."
Meanwhile, in a separate incident, a shop in Ballymena has been extensively damaged by a fire.
It started inside the shop in Linenhall Street at about 2130 GMT on Monday. The Fire and Rescue Service believes the cause is accidental.