Clondalkin apartments blaze 'malicious'

Children were pulled to safety from first-floor windows after a blaze broke out at an apartment complex in Dublin last night.

More than a dozen people were evacuated from the building at Watery Lane, Clondalkin, in the early hours of this morning.

It is thought the fire was started in the hallway of the flats at Thornfield Square.

Photo of Clondalkin apartments affected by this morning's fire. pic.twitter.com/d5xYYcIfhX

— Jason Kennedy (@jasonpkennedy) July 9, 2013

Fire brigade and ambulance crews were rushed to the scene at around 5.30am.

A number of people, including children, had to be pulled to safety from first-floor windows, balconies and the roof of the four-storey complex.

Some residents had to be treated for smoke inhalation and a woman is reported to have gone into labour during the evacuation - but there were no reports of serious injuries.

Gardaí are said to be treating the incident as malicious.

Fianna Fail Councillor for the area, Trevor Gilligan, appealed for anyone who knows anything about the incident to come forward.