Fourth fatal fire confirmed as safety warning issued

Fourth fatal fire confirmed as safety warning issued

A woman in her nineties has tragically lost her life following a house fire in County Antrim, marking the fourth fatal house fire in Northern Ireland within just three days. This most recent incident occurred on Sunday evening on Tansy Road in Lisburn. Authorities have expressed serious concern over the frequency of these fires, describing the cluster of incidents as highly unusual and troubling.

The fire service has highlighted that three fires over the preceding Friday and Saturday were accidental in nature, primarily caused by overloaded electrical sockets and other electrical faults. Two people died in separate house fires on Friday, one in Bangor, County Down, and another in north Belfast. Additionally, a woman lost her life in a blaze at a house in west Belfast on Saturday.

Suzanne Fleming, the fire service area commander, extended condolences to the families affected by these tragedies, stating, “Our thoughts and sympathies are with the family members and loved ones of the people that have lost their lives.” She emphasized the rarity of experiencing so many house fires in such a short time, adding, “It is very unusual to have this many house fires over a weekend and it’s certainly not something the public would be used to either in Northern Ireland.”

In response to the recent events, the fire service is urging residents to take precautions by avoiding the overloading of electrical sockets, ensuring their smoke alarms are functional, and having a fire escape plan prepared. These measures are critical to preventing future incidents and safeguarding lives

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