Northern Ireland

Landlord of Dungannon house blaze tells of shock and describes family who live in property as ‘good people’

Abdul Alim rushed to the scene on Monday night after receiving a phone call from a neighbour to tell him the house was on fire

PACEMAKER BELFAST 04/02/2025 Police in Dungannon have made an arrest following a serious fire at a house in the Cunninghams Lane area of the town on Monday, 3rd February. District Commander, Superintendent Peter Stevenson said: "Our colleagues from Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service contacted us just after 8.30pm to advise that they were turning out to a report of a house fire with children trapped. "Officers immediately made their way to the scene, arriving prior to Fire Service colleagues. The property was seen to be well alight, and as such, knowing that the residents were still inside, officers obtained ladders from neighbouring properties and used them to rescue four people. A fifth person was found on the roof, and brought to safety. "Fire Service extinguished the blaze, which has caused extensive damage. "The four people rescued were taken to hospital. Two women aged 37 and 70 remain in a critical condition, while two children, aged 7 and 10, are in a stable condition. "The person on the roof, a man aged 21, was arrested on suspicion of arson with intent to endanger life. He remains in custody at this time." Superintendent Stevenson continued: "Eight local policing officers were taken to hospital for treatment for the effects of smoke inhalation. Thankfully, all were released in the early hours of the morning.
The scene of the blaze where four people were rescued
By Suzanne McGonagle

The landlord of the house set alight in an arson attack in Co Tyrone has described the family living in the property targeted as “good people”.

Abdul Alim said he rushed to the scene in Dungannon on Monday night after receiving a phone call from a neighbour to tell him the house was on fire.

“It was awful, terrifying,” he said

“They are tenants of mine, they have lived here for a long time, they are good tenants, they are good people.”

The family, who are originally from Portugal, were in the house on Cunninghams Lane when the fire was believed to have been started at around 8.30pm.

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Neighbours also told The Irish News of hearing “roaring and shouting” from the scene.

The scene in the Cunninghams Lane area
The scene in the Cunninghams Lane area (Liam McBurney/PA)

Police said two people are in a critical condition in hospital following the blaze.

The PSNI said officers rescued a man aged 37 and 70-year-old woman along with two children, aged seven and 10, from the property.

The children are in a stable condition.

Eight police officers were treated for the effects of smoke inhalation but were later discharged from hospital.

Police said a 21-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of arson after being found on the roof of the house.

Speaking on Tuesday as he returned to the scene to survey the damage, Mr Alim, who owns the property, said: “The neighbours phoned me and I came here straight away.

“There were lots of ambulance, police and fire brigade.

“It was awful, terrifying.

“They are tenants of mine, they have lived here for a long time, they are good tenants, they are good people.

“They are Portuguese, living here a long time, family and the children at school.”

He said he spoke to one of the family in hospital just hours after the fire.

“I rang them about 11 o’clock in hospital, he said.

“She said to me, we are in hospital at the moment, I said ‘are you ok’ and she said ‘yes we are ok’ - that is the main thing.

“No-one is harmed, that is the main thing.”

Asked if he knew why the house had been targeted, he said: “I do not know anything, so far I do not know anything.”

Neighbour Christine Thompson said she “knew it was serious” by the sound of the numerous fire engines arriving on the street.

“I came running out and thought it was actually an accident because there were so many people and there was a lot of roaring and shouting,” she said,

“I walked up and realised the smoke was coming out of the house and I could see it was a house fire.

“Then when I was walking back I could hear something exploding or unless it was them trying to break down the window or something.

“I was standing away because the fire brigade was trying to get the people out of the house, but the people gathered here wouldn’t move back to let them out - they just wanted to take photographs and videos.”

She added: “They brought the child out the door.

“It was scary, you thought it was a car crash and the next thing it was a fire. As long as everybody is ok.”