Warning after ‘lives put at risk’ by arson attack in West Belfast

Six fire appliances attended the scene as police are treating the incident as arson with intent to endanger life

Police have issued a warning that “lives were put at risk” by an arson attack at a house in West Belfast shortly after midnight on Monday.

The fire service were called to the blaze on LaurelBank in the Poleglass area at 12.34am on April 13, with six appliances being sent to the scene, including an aerial appliance.

Firefighters managed to bring the fire under control before leaving the scene at 2.49am.

The fire is believed to have been started deliberately with the incident being handed over to the PSNI to investigate further.

A NIFRS spokesperson said: “Firefighters were called to reports of a fire at a property on Laurelbank, Poleglass, Belfast. Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus used 3 hose reel jets and 2 jets to extinguish the fire. Firefighters used gas monitors to confirm readings normal.

“The cause of the fire is believed to be deliberate ignition and the scene was handed over to the PSNI. Firefighters left the scene at 2.49am.”

Detective Sergeant Robson said: “We received a report at around 12.45am this morning, Monday, 13^th April of a house on fire in the Laurelbank area.“Officers attended the scene, where colleagues from the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service were already present and subsequently extinguished the fire.“Thankfully, no one was in the property at the time and no injuries were reported. However, the house is located in a residential area and other people’s lives were put at risk.“We believe the fire was started deliberately and it is therefore being treated as arson with intent to endanger life. “We’re keen to speak with anyone who might have noticed anything on Sunday evening and would appeal to anyone with information, including CCTV, ring-doorbell or other footage, to contact us on 101, quoting reference number 29 of 13/04/26.“Alternatively, you can also submit a report online using the non-emergency reporting form at http://www.psni.police.uk/makeareport/ or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online at http://crimestoppers-uk.org/.”

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