Two people were rescued after a fire broke out at a fold in east Belfast on Saturday evening.
Crews from the Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service (NIFRS) attended the blaze at the Inverary Radius Housing fold on Inverleith Drive in Sydenham alongside the police and ambulance service.
NIFRS said seven appliances and a support appliance were sent from Knock, Whitla, Holywood and Lisburn fire stations to attend the fire, which broke out at around 4pm.
“Crews wearing breathing apparatus carried out a search of the flat and rescued two persons and extinguished the fire,” a spokesperson said.
“Three persons were also led to safety from neighbouring flats by NIFRS personnel and our colleagues in PSNI.”
They added that those rescued were left in the care of the ambulance service.
Residents of the apartment-style fold, which provides housing for the over-55s as well as those requiring specialist care or with complex needs, were evacuated to the nearby Inverary Community Centre.
The community centre was opened to residents by Belfast City Council workers.
Local DUP Councillor Ruth Brooks said: “Huge credit to emergency services, Belfast Trust, Radius Housing, social services, Red Cross, council officers and the Inverary Community Centre team for their efforts [on Saturday evening].”
“It’s no easy task to get everyone out safely and across to the community centre.
“The fire was contained but there has been some smoke damage in one area.”
The fire was dealt with by around 9.30pm and the cause of the blaze is believed to be accidental.
