Woman rescued from flats blaze

A woman was rescued from a sixth floor flat after a smoke alarm alerted neighbours to a blaze.

The fire broke out on the Mount Vernon estate in north Belfast in the early hours of the morning and a rescue operation was launched by fire-fighters when it became clear she could not escape.

Fire officer Gabriel Ferguson said the woman was forced to stay on the sixth floor by heavy smoke.

“Neighbours alerted our control room to the fire when a smoke alarm in the hallway activated,” he said. “They said there was a lot of smoke.

“There was a bit of panic but we were able to establish what the fire was and whether someone was trapped.

“The lady was able to get to a balcony where she was rescued by our officers using breathing apparatus and a turntable ladder.”

It has not been established how the fire started.