Woman dies in third fatal fire in 24 hours in Northern Ireland

A woman has died in the third fatal fire in 24 hours in Northern Ireland.

The PSNI said they were called to a fire in Dunmurry, Co Antrim, just before 4am on Saturday.

They said the woman, in her 40s, was pronounced dead at the scene and three others, a man in his 50s, a 19-year-old woman and an 11-year-old girl were taken to hospital for smoke inhalation.

The fire service said they were able to “self rescue” thanks to smoke alarms in the property.

The fire, in the Areema Drive area, was one of three fatal fires in Northern Ireland in 24 hours.

On Friday, two people died in separate residential fires in Belfast and Bangor.

A man in his 20s died in a blaze at a property in the Queen Victoria Gardens area of north Belfast.

Emergency services were alerted to the fire at about 11am on Friday and the man was pronounced dead at the scene.

The second fire happened in the Abbey Park area of Bangor at about 12.30pm and a woman in her 50s was pronounced dead at the scene.

Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service (NIFRS) said: “It is unusual to have so many house fire fatalities over such a brief period but we have seen a rise in this type of incident this year.

“NIFRS would implore everyone to think of fire safety this holiday period.”

Investigations into all three fires have begun but none are believed to be suspicious.