The blaze broke out shortly after 4pm on Saturday at the Fold Housing Association, which is located around Inverary Drive in the Sydenham area of east Belfast.
On Sunday a spokesperson for Radius Housing said: “We are grateful to the NI Fire Service and other emergency services for how quickly and efficiently they responded to the fire, and ensuring that all tenants were safely evacuated from the building.
“We are also grateful to Belfast City Council, elected representatives and the wider community for the support provided to tenants who had to leave their homes.
“Radius staff were on site throughout yesterday evening and again this morning to begin a deep clean of the building. Most tenants were able to return to their homes on Saturday evening and Radius staff will be supporting them during this difficult period.
“A number of tenants were treated in hospital, and we hope they are able to make a full recovery.”
On Saturday a spokesperson for the Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service (NIFRS) said that “crews wearing Breathing Apparatus carried out a search of the flat and rescued two persons and extinguished the fire”.
“Three persons were also led to safety from neighbouring flats by NIFRS personnel and our colleagues in the PSNI.”
“The rescued persons were left in the care of the NI Ambulance Service.”
The incident was dealt with by 9:29pm, and the cause of the fire was believed to be accidental and not being treated as suspicious.
Seven fire appliances and a support appliance attended the incident and were supported by colleagues from the PSNI and Northern Ireland Ambulance Service.
The surrounding roads were closed to motorists as a result.
The ambulance service was contacted for further details.
Occupants of the retirement housing complex were also taken to local community centre, which was opened for the affected pensioners by Belfast City Council workers.
Linda Stitt has been a resident within the building for the last nine years, and spoke to the Belfast Telegraph from the nearby community centre with her three-year-old Lhasa Apso/Shih Tzu mix dog, Dolly.
“Tonight our fire alarm went off just after 4pm and I live in one of the very first flats,” she said.
NIFRS attend the scene of an incident at Radius Housing Inverary Fold in east Belfast. Credit: Liam McBurney/RAZORPIX
“I have my own front door, which none of the others have. I was sitting with my friend, and she looked out. She told me it must be serious because there was smoke coming out of one of the flats above the wee common room. Because I have an outside door, and am not really connected to the main building, I opened the door and brought in a few residents to make them a cup of tea.
“We just wanted to make sure people were comfortable. Next thing, the windows were blown out of the flat above, and we saw the ambulances and fire brigade arrive, and we knew it was very serious then.
“I know the fire brigade were working with one person in the foyer of The Fold, doing CPR. They were taken away in an ambulance.
“Three people went in an ambulance that I saw – they then started to evacuate people who were bedridden and were unable to leave their apartments on their own.
“They are people that we don’t evacuate normally, unless it is a serious situation.”
Radius Housing Inverary Fold resident Linda Sittt with her dog Dolly at Inverary Community Centre in east Belfast where she and other residents of Radius Housing Inverary Fold have been given shelter by Belfast City Council.. Credit: Liam McBurney/RAZORPIX
Linda praised the emergency services and Belfast City Council for being ‘tremendous’ in their speedy efforts in dealing with the incident.
“The council were very quick when they were asked to get the community centre here open for us.
“We were all asked to go over, and I think the electricity and gas has been turned off in the [Fold] building due to the risk.
“Our fire alarm, whenever it goes off – even if it’s for something minor like someone burning their toast – they are always here immediately, with no hesitation.
“I must commend them, they are always here.”
The Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service at the scene of the fire at Inverary Fold on Saturday evening 11.01.2025
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