Man arrested after fatal fire

A man has been arrested following a fatal house fire in the North, police said today.

The 28-year-old victim was killed by the fire at a property in Larchwood Mews, Banbridge, Co Down, shortly after 6am.

Detectives arrested a 27-year-old man.

Brian Greer, a group commander at the fire service, said the casualty had been rescued from the building and treated by paramedics.

It is unclear at this stage where or how the fire started.

“It would be a long time since I have seen as well-developed a fire in a house as that. It was quite substantial, there was substantial internal damage,” Mr Greer said.

Most of the rooms in the semi-detached house were affected. The fire service was called by a neighbour.

The officer added: “The fire could be seen by the crews responding, it could be seen at a distance.”

He said flames would have been coming through the windows, with the heat fierce. Three appliances attended.