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Six rescued from blaze in flats Six rescued from blaze in flats
(about 2 hours later)
Six people have been rescued from a fire at flats in south Belfast, the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service has said.Six people have been rescued from a fire at flats in south Belfast, the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service has said.
Fire crews were called to the property, on Eglantine Avenue, at about 0200 GMT.Fire crews were called to the property, on Eglantine Avenue, at about 0200 GMT.
They arrived to find dense smoke in the ground floor hallway and people trapped in the upstairs flats.They arrived to find dense smoke in the ground floor hallway and people trapped in the upstairs flats.
Officers used ladders to rescue them while fire teams put out the fire in the hallway. It is being treated as suspicious.Officers used ladders to rescue them while fire teams put out the fire in the hallway. It is being treated as suspicious.
The smoke was coming from a burning mattress on the ground floor of the house, converted into six flat units on three floors.The smoke was coming from a burning mattress on the ground floor of the house, converted into six flat units on three floors.
Controllers from the Fire and Rescue Service advised those trapped what to do until the fire crews arrived.Controllers from the Fire and Rescue Service advised those trapped what to do until the fire crews arrived.
Watch commander Ashley Jeffries said it was fortunate that fire alarms were working at the flats, otherwise "we could have been talking about fatalities".Watch commander Ashley Jeffries said it was fortunate that fire alarms were working at the flats, otherwise "we could have been talking about fatalities".
"A mattress was located in the rear escape corridor - what seems to have been a lot of papers was placed on it so we are treating it as suspicious," he said."A mattress was located in the rear escape corridor - what seems to have been a lot of papers was placed on it so we are treating it as suspicious," he said.
"PSNI are actually in attendance with scenes of crime, I believe, this morning.""PSNI are actually in attendance with scenes of crime, I believe, this morning."
The rescued people - including a family - were checked by ambulance crews for smoke inhalation and after treatment were allowed to stay with friends or relatives.The rescued people - including a family - were checked by ambulance crews for smoke inhalation and after treatment were allowed to stay with friends or relatives.
SDLP South Belfast assembly member Carmel Hannasaid it would be appalling if the fire was started deliberately.
"I am appalled at the apparent arson attack in Eglantine Avenue which, were it not for the good work of the fire and rescue service, could have led to the multiple loss of life, of up to six people.
"This fire seems very suspicious and, if it does turn out to be malicious, it is yet another sign of the rampant criminality in south Belfast," she said.