Man dies in Belfast fire

A man died today after a blaze engulfed his flat while he lay sleeping.

Fire officers believe the man, 46, was overcome by fumes after waking up to discover the flames in his first floor north Belfast flat.

Crews went to the blaze at Mount Vernon House on Belfast’s Shore Road after the alarm was raised shortly before midnight.

They pulled the man out of the smoke-filled flat but he was pronounced dead shortly afterwards.

A number of other flats were evacuated during the emergency.

Divisional Fire Officer Paul Smyth said the man’s smoke alarm had been disconnected from the electricity mains.

“We got the call to our control room at around 11.47pm and we suspect the blaze was going for about 30 minutes,” he said.

“The investigation is at an early stage but we believe the man was asleep when the fire started in the living room.

“It may have smouldered for a while, melting the window frames which enabled more air to get behind it, fanning the flames.

“The fire was contained to the living room which was completely destroyed while the rest of the flat was affected by heat and smoke damage.

“Unfortunately the man’s smoke alarm was not connected to the mains and I would advise anyone living in flats or who has an elderly relative to make sure they have working smoke alarms, to make sure they are properly wired.

“This was tragic.”