A woman in her 70s had to be rescued by firefighters after her house was ‘set alight’ in a suspected arson attack in Antrim.
The woman was then taken to hospital for treatment to burn injuries to her hands and smoke inhalation following the incident, which took place in the Rathglynn area in the early hours of Tuesday morning.
Police say a woman in her 40s was also taken to hospital for injuries to her hands and smoke inhalation after attempting to rescue the woman, while a man in his 40s also needed treatment for smoke inhalation while attempting to assist her.
The Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service (NIFRS) received a report of the fire at around 3.10am.
Crews from both Antrim and Ballymena fire stations were sent to the scene.
In a statement, the fire service said: “At [3.10am] this morning fire crews from Antrim and Ballymena Fire Stations attended a ‘persons reported’ call in the Rathglynn area of Antrim.”
“Crews wearing breathing apparatus rescued one female and extinguished the fire.
“The scene has now been handed over to the PSNI. Fire crews from Antrim will be in the area today to offer home fire safety advice to residents.”
The PSNI said that they are treating the incident as arson with intent.
“At around 3.20am, it was reported to police that a property in the area was set alight,” a spokesperson said.
“It was reported that a woman in her 70s was inside the property at the time. She was taken to hospital for treatment to burns to her hands and smoke inhalation following the incident.
“A woman aged in her 40s was treated for both smoke inhalation and injuries to her hands, as she attempted to free the woman from the property.
“Another man, also aged in his 40s was also treated for smoke inhalation as he attempted to provide assistance.
“Colleagues from Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service, who were already in attendance, dealt with the fire.
“The property was significantly damaged and at this stage, the incident is being treated as arson with intent.”
