Smoke alarm appeal after man killed in house blaze
A MAN in his 50s has died in a house fire in east Belfast.
Emergency crews from Knock and Central Fire Stations were called to the terrace house at Kyle Street in Sydenham.
Wearing breathing apparatus and using thermal imaging cameras, firefighters entered the building and the man was discovered in an upstairs bedroom, where the seat of the blaze was.
Group Commander Graham Lowry offered his condolences to the man’s family and appealed for people to get a working fire alarm installed in their homes.
He said: “This fire, which was due to an electrical fault, was not huge.
“But it claimed the life of this gentleman. The search team locat- ed the man within the smokelogged room and carried him to the ground floor, where we administered first aid until the Ambulance Service arrived.
“Unfortunately, the gentleman was confirmed deceased at the scene by the Ambulance Service.
“The gentleman was the sole occupant of the house, but his little dog, which was downstairs, was rescued from the house and is fine.
“It is not easy to lose a loved one at any time of the year, but close to Christmas is particularly difficult.
“I, on behalf of the Fire Service, offer our condolences to the family of this gentleman.
“I would like to appeal to people to make sure they have a working smoke alarm installed.”