Child among three injured during escape from suspected arson attack in Cork City
Gardaí are investigating the circumstances surrounding of an overnight house fire at Siver Birch off the Rochestown Road at around 12.30am.
A mother and her two sons were forced to escape a housefire in a suspected arson attack on a family home in a Cork suburb in the early hours of Monday morning.
One of the people who fled the housefire was a child, understood to be as young as 12.
The other son, aged 24, jumped from the first-floor window to escape the fire in the Silver Birch estate in Rochestown on the city’s southside. It is believed that he sustained leg injuries, including a broken ankle, in the fall from the upstairs window.
All three were treated for smoke inhalation and were taken by ambulance to Cork University Hospital.
The house has suffered so much damage that the family will need alternative accommodation.
The fire started outside the house at the front door. It appears that an accelerant was used.
It is possible that a petrol bomb was placed at the door and the fire then spread into the house.
A forensic analysis of the door will be conducted to confirm what substances started the fire.
Gardaí described the incident as "criminal damage by fire".
The fire started at the front of the house and spread into the downstairs hallway, sitting room, and kitchen at approximately 12.35am.
Three units of the Cork fire service responded to the fire. The fire also caused extensive smoke damage at the property, and the scene has been preserved for a forensic examination.
Gardaí are working to ascertain a motive for the fire.
Fianna Fáil TD for Cork South Central Seamus McGrath warned that the fire could have resulted in deaths.
“This is an extremely serious incident. The matter is under investigation by the gardaí. I would encourage anyone with information to provide it,” Mr McGrath said.
Victor Shine, second officer with Cork City Fire Brigade, advised people to have an evacuation plan in their home in the event of fire.
Cork City Fire Brigade responds quickly to emergencies, arriving at an incident in seven to eight minutes at the most, Mr Shine said.
If a fire starts in someone’s home and they are trapped upstairs, they should call the fire service and go into a room in which the window can fully open to later allow for their evacuation, he advised.
They should shut the door as keeping it closed will generally give someone 30 minutes' protection from the smoke and flames, so that the fire service can arrive and rescue them by ladder, he said.
If someone feels that they must exit through an upstairs window to escape the fire, Mr Shine advised that they lower themselves out the window first, shortening the fall to the ground.
Superintendent Gary McPolin has appealed for anyone who noticed a vehicle or people acting suspiciously in the Rochestown area between midnight and 12.30am to contact Togher Garda Station or to call the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111.
Gardaí are also appealing for dashcam and CCTV footage from the area last night.
In a statement, gardaí said they and emergency services attended the scene of an incident of criminal damage by fire that occurred at a domestic residence in Rochestown, Cork city on Monday at approximately 12.30am.
"The scene is currently being preserved for technical examination.
"Enquiries are ongoing."
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