Hi °C | Lo °C Two police officers have been hailed as heroes after they saved a toddler from a burning house.
The two-year-old and a 48-year-old man were pulled from the blaze after the PSNI officers spotted the fire while on patrol.
They forced their way into the burning house in Lisburn and brought the pair to safety.
The incident happened at around 2.30am yesterday on the Hillhall Road.
The occupants were examined at the scene by ambulance staff but were uninjured.
The fire is understood to have started accidentally.
DUP councillor Alan Carlisle praised the officers, describing them as “heroes”. He said: “Thank goodness these officers were going past or we could have had a real tragedy on our hands. It just shows the police aren’t just driving around, they are actively keeping an eye within the community.
“These officers did an absolutely fantastic job.”
The officers were also praised by PSNI Lisburn Area Commander, Chief Inspector Darrin Jones.
He said: “I am convinced that the brave and swift actions of these two officers helped to avert what could have been a terrible situation.”
Meanwhile, a fire chief has urged the public to ensure they have working smoke alarms in their homes following the death of a pensioner in a house fire.
The victim — named locally as Georgina Wade (70) — died after a small fire at her bungalow on Bridge Street, Downpatrick on Saturday.
The alarm was raised at around 6.30am on Saturday and fire appliances attended from Downpatrick and Ballynahinch.
When they arrived the fire had already been extinguished by the victim’s husband. Despite the best efforts of the rescue services, she was pronounced dead at the scene.
The fire is understood to have started in a bedroom of the house and was prevented from spreading further by her husband.
It is understood the victim had been unwell for some time and may have require oxygen tanks at her home.
SDLP councillor Colin McGrath said the community was saddened by the death. A police spokeswoman said the blaze is not being treated as suspicious at this stage.
