Five police officers treated for smoke inhalation following North Belfast apartment fire

Q Newsdesk

Six people , including five police officers, have been treated for smoke inhalation after a fire in North Belfast.

The blaze broke out at a property in Brookfield Mill Apartments in the Ardoyne area shortly before 6 this morning.

Residents evacuated the building while the incident was ongoing but have since been allowed to return home.

Local councillor Paul McCusker says it's lucky there weren't more serious injuries:

One man who was rescued from the building has been arrested on suspicion of arson endangering life.

Five PSNI officers have been treated in hospital following a fire at a flat in north Belfast. One man has been arrested https://t.co/ZqRjIuuz3l

— PSNI (@PoliceServiceNI) 29 September 2018

Detective Sergeant Stephen Gardiner said:

“Officers responded to the blaze at a block of flats in Flax Street at around 5.40am this morning, Saturday 29 September.

The officers who were first to arrive at the scene entered the building and evacuated residents.

One man was removed from the building by Fire Service personnel wearing breathing apparatus. He was subsequently arrested on suspicion of arson endangering life, before being transferred to hospital for treatment for smoke inhalation.

I would commend the bravery of the responding officers who dealt with this incident, for their selflessness and commitment to protecting the public and ensuring the residents of the building were removed from harm’s way and were kept safe.”