13/12/2025
The thoughts and sympathies of Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service are with the loved ones of a woman, aged in her 40s, who died following a house fire at Areema Drive, Dunmurry.
Firefighters were called to reports of a house fire at 3.51am this morning. Two appliances from Lisburn Fire Station and one from Cadogan Fire Station attended the incident.
Smoke alarms alerted the occupants enabling a man, aged in his 50s, a 19-year-old woman and an 11-year-old girl to self-rescue suffering from smoke inhalation. Tragically, 1 female occupant, died at the scene.
Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus entered the property and utilised hose reel jets and thermal imaging equipment to extinguish the fire.
The cause of the fire is under investigation and Firefighters left the scene at 7.04am.
Sadly this is the third loss of life within the last 24 hours. In it unusual to have so many house fire fatalities over such a brief period but we have seen a rise in this type of incident this year. NIFRS would implore everyone to think of fire safety this holiday period heeding our Safe for the Season messaging:
• Don’t overload plug sockets and stick to 1 plug per socket. Always remember to switch off and unplug the lights before leaving your home or going to bed. If you have a real Christmas tree, make sure it is well hydrated, as a dry tree becomes more flammable.
• Christmas dinners and parties can be one of the best parts of the holiday season. Always avoid cooking while under the influence of alcohol, and ensure there are no dishtowels, packaging or paper near the hob. Remember to turn appliances off when you are finished using them or if you need to leave the room.
• Keep candles away from curtains and decorations and when possible, opt for battery-operated candles instead.
• Homes can become very crowded at Christmas. Therefore, it’s important to ensure all escape routes are clear of any decorations or gifts and that everyone staying with you during the festive season is aware of the fire escape plan in case of an emergency.
• It’s vital that every home is protected with working smoke and carbon monoxide alarms. Smoke alarms give an early warning if a fire breaks out, so they should be fitted on every level of your home. Any room with a fuel-burning appliance, such as a gas boiler, fireplace or wood-burning stove, should have a working carbon monoxide alarm. Carbon monoxide is invisible and odourless, so having an alarm in these rooms is essential.
• We encourage everyone to think of others this holiday season. Check in on vulnerable family, friends and neighbours to ensure they stay safe this season too.
