Three killed in Belfast house blaze

Three generations of a family were killed in a fire in a house in Belfast today.

The blaze, which claimed three lives, occurred at Edenbrook Close in the loyalist Shankill area of the city.

Fire crews, ambulance staff and the PSNI were at the scene of the fire in North Belfast.

Local sources said one of the victims was a child.

The house is located in a cul-de-sac near Edenbrook Primary School at the top of the Shankill Road.

Sources said the blaze appeared to have been accidental. The tragedy was discovered around lunchtime.

Stunned neighbours peered out from the windows of their homes as the emergency services examined the scene.

A police family liaison officer arrived as forensic experts and firemen entered and left the house, the windows of which appeared to be blackened by smoke.

Democratic Unionist MP Nigel Dodds described the incident as a terrible tragedy.

“Our thoughts are entirely with the family of those who have lost their lives and with the community in Edenbrook Close at this time,” the North Belfast MP said.

“It is an appalling and awful tragedy to occur.”

Ulster Unionist Assembly member Fred Cobain said the community was stunned.

“People are in a state of shock about what has happened,” he said. “It is a terrible, terrible incident.

“It just drives home to everyone the need for them to be fire safety conscious.”