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Large fire extinguished in Belfast tower block
Firefighters contained a major blaze at a social housing block in Belfast yesterday, which led to the evacuation of a number of residents from the 56-flat tower.
The fire service was called just after 5.30pm yesterday and were faced with “a well developed fire” on the ninth floor of the building.
The blaze was extinguished by 6.10pm with the fire service saying “a number of residents” were led to safety.
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Pictures of the fire appear to show flames spreading across several floors on the outside of the building.
It does not have cladding but pictures do show plastic window frames, which appear to have been damaged by the flames. There are no sprinklers in the building but smoke alarms are fitted on every floor and regularly tested, according to the Northern Ireland Housing Executive (NIHE).
The NIHE has been asked to confirm how far the blaze spread across the outside of the building.
In a statement, it said the fire was contained to one flat, which was severely damaged with 17 other flats were impacted, primarily by water damage.
It comes five months after 80 people were killed in the devastating Grenfell Tower fire in west London, which police have said spread across aluminium composite cladding and insulation attached to the exterior of the tower.
Incredible work from emergency services at Coolmoyne House tonight. Residents safe after a fire in one of the flats tonight. @BelfastLive pic.twitter.com/gNcU6NH0ch
— Ryan Smith (@Ryan_Smith94)Incredible work from emergency services at Coolmoyne House tonight. Residents safe after a fire in one of the flats tonight. @BelfastLive pic.twitter.com/gNcU6NH0ch
— Ryan Smith (@Ryan_Smith94) November 15, 2017
One person has been rescued from a burning tower block and a number of residents led to safety after a fire broke out at high-rise flats outside Dunmurry this evening at Coolmoyne House. @newbelfast pic.twitter.com/diuOXGx2yB
— Gerard (PG) Mulhern (@puntersg)One person has been rescued from a burning tower block and a number of residents led to safety after a fire broke out at high-rise flats outside Dunmurry this evening at Coolmoyne House. @newbelfast pic.twitter.com/diuOXGx2yB
— Gerard (PG) Mulhern (@puntersg) November 15, 2017
A fire in 2016 in Shepherd’s Court, west London, saw flames spread across several floors externally. A later investigation said this was “likely” to have been caused by flammable panels attached below windows.
A spokesperson for the Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service (NIFRS), said: “A total of 11 fire appliances and 55 firefighters were mobilised to the incident.
“On arrival the firefighters were faced with a well-developed fire on the ninth floor of a block of flats. The prompt intervention of our firefighters quickly brought the blaze under control and it was extinguished at 6.10pm. One person was rescued and a number of residents were led to safety.
“The cause of the fire has been determined as accidental.
“Our firefighters are on the ground today in Dunmurry providing fire safety advice and reassurance to residents living in high-rise accommodation in the area.”
According to a 2015 stock survey, the block has 56 flats of which 43 are socially rented and the remainder owned by leaseholders.
A spokesperson for the Housing Executive said three residents were given emergency overnight accommodation in a nearby hotel.
The spokesperson added: “The Housing Executive wants to reassure residents that their safety is taken extremely seriously. We work closely with the fire service to ensure we remain fully compliant with all fire safety regulations, have robust fire safety regimes and carry our regular inspections in all of our high rise buildings.
“The cause of the fire is under investigation by the NIFRS. We will be fully co-operating with them. We will be examining all aspects of last night’s incident and will take the best advice available on whether any further action needs to be taken."
