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Pensioner rescued from flats fire Pensioner rescued from flats fire
(about 1 hour later)
A 91-year-old man had to be woken up by firefighters following an arson attack in County Down. A 91-year-old man had to be woken up by firefighters attending the scene of an arson attack in County Down.
Twenty-five people, including children, were moved out of their homes at Mountview Terrace, Banbridge, after fire started at 0130 BST on Friday.Twenty-five people, including children, were moved out of their homes at Mountview Terrace, Banbridge, after fire started at 0130 BST on Friday.
There were no reports of any injuries, but several properties were badly damaged by the fire. The rest were damaged by smoke and water. An oil tank containing about 500 litres of fuel was alight.
An oil tank appears to have caught fire during the incident. There were no reports of any injuries, but two houses and several flats were badly damaged. It is understood the police have made one arrest.
Firefighters had to help the elderly man out of his home as the blaze spread. Many other residents were able to get out of their homes themselves. Fire Service group commander Lloyd Crawford, who led the operation, said one of the residents was woken up by the noise of the fire and phoned the emergency services.
He said two terraced houses were alight when crews arrived, and the fire was spreading to four adjacent flats.
The oil tank fire caused severe damage to the initial property, he said.
"We had some damage to the property to the right of that, another terraced house. We had some damage to the roof space of one of the flats," he said.
"The swift action of the Fire Service was able to prevent fire damage to the other three flats. We actually managed to prevent fire spreading to another block of four flats."
Mr Crawford said firefighters had to carry the elderly man to safety as the blaze spread. He added that the "actions of the Fire Service prevented further injury".
Many other residents were able to get out of their homes themselves.
A local leisure centre was made available for people who were moved out.A local leisure centre was made available for people who were moved out.
The police have said they are treating the blaze as suspicious.The police have said they are treating the blaze as suspicious.