Police are investigating the circumstances surrounding a fire at flats at Burrendale Park Road in Newcastle in the early hours of Thursday 8 December.
The fire, which has now been extinguished by NIFRS personnel, was reported to police at around 3.40am. Substantial damage has been caused to the block of flats and enquiries are ongoing to establish the cause of the blaze. There were no reports of any injuries.
Inspector Gary Moore has appealed for anyone who noticed any suspicious activity in the Burrendale Park Road area or who has any information which may be of assistance to police to contact officers in Downpatrick on 101. Information can also be given anonymously through the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
Strongly condemning the arson attack, Sinn Féin Mourne’s Councillor Willie Clarke said: “Once again, residents have been forced to flee for their lives because of the work of an arsonist on this estate.
“Four flats have been destroyed and another four are badly smoke damaged. This is just totally unacceptable. As the fire took hold early in the morning, residents were sleeping in bed and two of them had hearing impairment problems and could have been fatalities were it not for the excellent work of the emergency services.
“Deaths will occur unless this arsonist is stopped. This was a very close call. Whoever is doing this must be caught and they must receive a prison sentence. Lives have again been endangered. The cost of the property damage alone will run probably into hundreds of thousands of pounds. People are now homeless just before Christmas.
“I was speaking to Police Superintendent Paul Reid recently and asked him about progress regarding the last arson attack at Burrendale Park. This simply would not be allowed to happen in any other estates in Newcastle. People here are now very angry and very fearful.
“It is shocking that going into Christmas that vulnerable people have been burned out of their homes. Their possessions have been destroyed, and most will likely not have insurance to cover this. I would like to thank the NIFRS in Newcastle for their quick response to this fire and the support from the police and the NI Ambulance Service.
“It is totally ironic that today we have a Down PCSP Anti-Social Behaviour meeting organised to discuss the last arson attack in Newcastle just a short time ago at the end of October. This Newcastle estate has now been stigmatised by these fire attacks. Residents are angry and it really needs to stop. If anyone knows anything about the cause of these fires, please contact the police on the numbers above before there is a serious loss of life.”
Related links:
http://www.downnews.co.uk/four-families-flee-following-newcastle-arson-attack/
