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Families rehoused after flat fire Families rehoused after flat fire
(about 1 hour later)
A fire at a block of flats in north Belfast will mean some residents will have to be rehoused over Christmas.A fire at a block of flats in north Belfast will mean some residents will have to be rehoused over Christmas.
The blaze started in a flat on the sixth floor of Ross House at Mount Vernon just after 0900 GMT on Sunday.The blaze started in a flat on the sixth floor of Ross House at Mount Vernon just after 0900 GMT on Sunday.
Fire officers believe it was started accidentally. A number of people were taken to safety while fire crews worked to prevent the blaze from spreading. Fire officers believe it was started accidentally. A young family in the flat at the time escaped uninjured, and no-one in the building was hurt.
No-one was injured, but Ken Leathem of the Fire and Rescue Service said it could have been a lot worse. Firefighter Ken Leathem said those living above the sixth floor would have been at risk if the blaze had spread.
"Luckily enough, when the family left, they closed the door behind them so they took the right precautions, and that held the fire back," he said. Smoke could be seen billowing from out of the flat"Luckily enough, when the family left, they closed the door behind them so they took the right precautions, and that held the fire back," he said.
"The fire began to spread outside and up the side of the building as well - we were very concerned about that at the early stages."The fire began to spread outside and up the side of the building as well - we were very concerned about that at the early stages.
"One of our priorities was to ensure that those residents in those flats were out and away to safety.""One of our priorities was to ensure that those residents in those flats were out and away to safety."
Rose Stokes, who is in her 80s, lives on the 11th floor. She said she was still upset by the experience.
Rose Stokes said she was badly shaken by her ordealMs Stokes was getting ready to go to church when the alarm was raised.
"You know, you haven't got time to lift anything important," she said.
"You just had to fly out."
She has since been allowed back into her flat, but a number of people will have to be rehoused while the smoke and fire damage is repaired.