28/11/2006

East Belfast fire treated as 'suspicious'

Police believe that a fire at a block of flats in east Belfast in the early hours of this morning may have been started deliberately.

The Fire and Rescue Service was called to the scene of the blaze at the building in the Grace Avenue area, close to Bloomfield Avenue at about 2.45am after receiving reports of residents being trapped by the flames.

Fire-fighters using breathing apparatus entered the building and rescued three people who had become trapped on the second floor.

No one was injured during the incident.

It is understood that the blaze started in a stairwell.

A spokesman for the Fire and Rescue Service said: "I don't want to say too much about the fire itself because the police are still investigating - it may be suspicious."

Anyone with any information in connection with the blaze should contact the police on 0845 600 8000 or anonymously on the Crimestoppers number on 0800 555 111.

(EF)


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