Four people taken to hospital with burns and shock after residential block blaze

Firefighters were called to the scene at around 5.30am this morning.

The fire was on the fourth floor of a residential building in Flax Street, in the Ardoyne district of north Belfast.

The fire brigade said: “On arrival, crews identified that a number of people were trapped by smoke on the fourth floor.

“They quickly rescued two people with an aerial appliance from outside of the building, and a further two people managed to self-rescue.

“Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus evacuated eight people and extinguished the fire in the flat.

“At this stage the fire is believed to have been caused by a mobile device being left on charge overnight, however further investigation will take place.”

The four people who were in the flat have all been taken to hospital suffering from burns, smoke inhalation, and shock.

The News Letter is awaiting a condition update.