Lisburn house fire malicious say police

A MID terraced home at Warren Gardens has been extensively damaged in what appears to be a malicious fire last Friday afternoon around 5.30pm.

The Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service searched the premises fearing someone was trapped inside before they tackled the blaze. They described the incident as a 'deliberate ignition' and the police are treating it as a malicious.

The District Commander for South and East Belfast Martin McDonald, who attended the scene, described the difficulties they faced on arrival.

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"If the fire had happened during the night it might have been a different story," he said. "The fact there were two working smoke alarms made all the difference. Every minute counts when fire crews are tackling a fire like that.

"The difference between two or three minutes could be a difference between life and death."

Mr McDonald said that when firefighters arrived there were initially believed a person was trapped inside. Firefighters with breathing apparatus searched the premises but it emerged the householder had already managed to get out.

An area at the top of Warren Gardens was closed for almost an hour.

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The fire crew got the call at 5.32pm from neighbours and had to deal with the evening rush hour traffic. Three appliances were mobilised, two from Lisburn and one from Lisburn Road.

A man in his 20's was taken to hospital suffering from smoke inhalation

Police said they arrested one person but he was released without charge.