Dungannon: Two women in critical condition after house fire


A house fire in Dungannon has left two women in critical condition, and police officers were forced to rescue two children from the home. The women, aged 37 and 70, were accompanied by children aged seven and ten. The children have since stabilised. Police were alerted to the blaze thanks to the fire service, who contacted them at around 8.30 pm. Reports of children being inside the burning home quickly led officers to act, with eight police officers heading to Cunninghams Lane to engage in a rescue effort.

Whilst all eight police officers would later be treated for the effects of smoke inhalation, they were able to get a ladder from neighbouring residences and use them to rescue the four people they found. A fifth person was caught on the roof of the burning home, and was also later brought to safety. The man was arrested on the scene under suspicion of committing the crime. The officers remain in custody at this time.

Supt Peter Stevenson congratulated the heroics undertaken by the eight officers, and lauded their bravery in exposing themselves to the dangers of smoke inhalation in order to save the lives of others. Stevenson said that emergency crews and services from all across the area would continue to be visible in Dungannon, and that an investigation is ongoing.

Residents of Cunninghams Lane have been praised for their efforts to help those involved in the fire, with the area expected to remain cordoned off at least through the next few days. The ambulance service also dispatched numerous crews and support staff to the location, as 12 people were conveyed to Craigavon Area Hospital for treatment

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