A fire that broke out at an east Belfast retirement complex has since been extinguished, with all local emergency services called to the scene.
Seven fire appliances and a support appliance are currently still at the incident and continue to be supported by colleagues from the PSNI and Northern Ireland Ambulance Service.
The blaze broke out at the Fold Housing Association on Inverary Drive in the Sydenham area. The surrounding roads have been closed to motorists.
Occupants of the retirement housing complex have been taken to local community centre, which was opened for the incident by Belfast City Council workers.
Linda Stitt has been a resident within the building for the last nine years, and spoke to The Belfast Telegraph from the nearby community centre with her three-year-old Lhasa Apso/Shih Tzu mix dog, Dolly.
“Tonight our fire alarm went off just after 4pm and I live in one of the very first flats,” she said.
“I have my own front door, which none of the others have. I was sitting with my friend, and she looked out. She told me it must be serious because there was smoke coming out of one of the flats above the wee common room. Because I have an outside door, and am not really connected to the main building, I opened the door and brought in a few residents to make them a cup of tea.
“We just wanted to make sure people were comfortable. Next thing, the windows were blown out of the flat above, and we saw the ambulances and fire brigade arrive, and we knew it was very serious then.
“I know the fire brigade were working with one person in the foyer of The Fold, doing CPR. They were taken away in an ambulance.
“Three people went in an ambulance that I saw – they then started to evacuate people who were bedridden and were unable to leave their apartments on their own.
“They are people that we don’t evacuate normally, unless it is a serious situation.”
Linda praised the emergency services and Belfast City Council for being ‘tremendous’ in their speedy efforts in dealing with the incident.
“The council were very quick when they were asked to get the community centre here open for us.
“We were all asked to go over, and I think the electricity and gas has been turned off in the [Fold] building due to the risk.
“Our fire alarm, whenever it goes off – even if it’s for something minor like someone burning their toast – they are always here immediately, with no hesitation.
“I must commend them, they are always here.”