Residents’ shock after arson attack on woman’s home
RESIDENTS in a west Belfast housing estate have spoken of their shock after two women escaped injury in an arson attack which destroyed a family home.
The fire broke out at the house on Monagh Drive just before 5pm on Monday after petrol was poured around the property and set alight.
A young mother and her four children living in the adjoining property also had to be evacuated from their home, which sustained serious smoke damage.
Neighbours said the woman who owned the house is in her 50s and lived alone, but it is believed that one of her daughters was with her at the time.
The Fire Service has been praised for stopping the blaze at the end terrace house from spreading to neighbouring homes.
Firefighters were on the scene within four minutes of the call at 4.47pm and said the fire was “well developed”.
Three appliances, 14 firefighters and an officer worked to extinguish the blaze and stop it spreading.
Group commander Mark Smyth said the two women had managed to get themselves out of the property before they had arrived on the scene.
“Our priority was to stop the fire and stop it spreading and thankfully we managed that,” he said.
A neighbour, who did not want to be named, said she had returned home just as the fire had taken hold.
She said: “Everyone was out on the street and there was a lot of commotion.
“People were screaming — it was mad. It is a very random
attack and people don’t understand why this has happened.”
Another woman who lives on the estate said people had been left concerned.
“It’s frightening to think this could happen on your own doorstep,” she said.
“No one knows why this happened.
“It’s a very quiet area, so people are understandably shocked. It’s really tragic, but things could have been a lot worse.”
She added: “If this had been in the middle of the night, there could have been serious injuries to people and especially with young children in the house next door.”
Sinn Fein MLA for West Belfast Pat Sheehan condemned the incident.
He said: “This was a disgraceful attack on a family home and I would condemn it in the strongest possible terms.
“It’s lucky that nobody was seriously injured or even worse. I would urge anyone with information to bring it forward to the PSNI.”
Police say they are treating the incident at the home, which was “completely gutted”, as arson.
Detective Sergeant Doherty said: “It is extremely fortunate that the Fire Service were quickly on the scene, as the fire could have easily spread to adjoining properties, causing further damage and distress.”
Police have appealed to anyone who noticed any suspicious persons or vehicles in the area to contact detectives at Musgrave on the non-emergency number 101, quoting reference 847 October 29.
People with information on the incident can also ring Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.