Blaze could have been much worse

Blaze could have been much worse

23 November 2016

A CARE worker who raised the alarm after arsonists targeted a vacant property at a Killyleagh housing estate last weekend has been credited with helping save lives.

The blaze broke out at a house at Kerry Wynd on Saturday evening next door to a young couple and their four children, the youngest who is just three months old.

Residents and politicians say the quick actions of care worker Sonya McKenna “averted a tragedy” and have appealed to parents to warn their children to stay away from vacant property. Calls have also been issued for the owners of the home where the fire started to make sure it secure.

Kirsty Jess, who lives next door to the property targeted by the arsonists, said she is grateful to Sonya for raising the alarm. The mother of four said she shudders to think what would have happened if the blaze had started in the middle of the night.

The care worker was on her way to visit a client at the Kerry estate around 8.20pm on Saturday night when she she spotted the fire in a downstairs living room and flames and sparks pouring out of the chimney. There was also smoke coming out of the rear of the property.

Kirsty, who is seeking to move from the Kerry estate in the wake of the weekend incident, said she is concerned about what happened and the consequences if the blaze had been started during the night when there would have been no one around to raise the alarm.

“If the fire had been started in the middle of the night who knows what might have happened. It is not something I want to think about. I am so glad Sonya raised the alarm and knew a young family lived next door to the house that was on fire,” she said.

“Sonya put the safety of my children first and I am so glad that she did as the outcome could have been much worse. My priority is for my children and that is why I have asked to be moved somewhere else. I have lived here for four-and-a-half years but believe it is now time to move. I cannot praise Sonya enough for what she did.”

Kirsty said the property next door has been vacant for some time and that when she moved in a glass conservatory at the rear of it had been smashed. The young mum said while teenagers had previously congregated around the vacant property, they had not been near it recently.

“I did not hear any noise coming from next door on Saturday night until Sonya came to our door. We could see the fire downstairs and bits of fire coming out of the chimney but don’t know how the blaze started,” said the young mum, adding: “I am so thankful Sonya raised the alarm and helped avert a tragedy.”

The care worker said she was aware a young family lived adjacent to the burning house and wanted to alert them before contacting the Fire Service. Sonya said she is not looking for any thanks and did what anyone else would have done after spotting the blaze.

“I noticed flames and sparks coming out of the chimney and there was a glow in the downstairs living room. I couldn’t see clearly into the property but suspected something was wrong,” she said. “I knew a young family lived next door and alerted them before contacting the Fire Service. I did not know if there was anyone in the house that was on fire but a man who lives in the estate told me it was empty.”

Sonya said her immediate concern was for the young family and the fact the house next door to them was on fire, adding: “Anyone else faced with the same situation would have done what I did and raised the alarm. I would like to think that if the house next door to me was on fire that somebody would do the same for me. I’m glad there was a positive outcome and nothing more serious happened.”

Rowallane councillors Billy Walker and Terry Andrews praised the care worker for raising the alarm and say it is extremely fortunate the weekend fire did not result in a tragedy, warning if the fire had started in the middle of the night the consequences could have been “horrific.” 

They also appealed to anyone who can assist police investigating the blaze to contact them as soon as possible to ensure no other lives are put in danger.