Fireman tried in vain to save man’s life in fatal house fire

Fireman tried in vain to save man’s life in fatal house fire

6 April 2016

A PART-time fireman made three brave attempts to rescue a man from a fatal house fire in Downpatrick last weekend.

The tragic fire at the Cathedral View area started around teatime last Friday and claimed the life of 55 year-old Brian McCabe. 

The firefighter was on his way home from work when he spotted thick black smoke billowing from the property. He ran to the house and asked distressed neighbours if there was anyone inside, but they could not confirm if there was.

The firefighter used a claw hammer provided by one of Mr McCabe’s neighbours to break down the front door of the house to gain access to the property. While he was doing this, the man’s wife arrived and confirmed her husband was inside.

Despite three attempts to stage a rescue, the firefighter was beaten back by choking, acrid smoke at which point his colleagues from Downpatrick fire station arrived and donned breathing apparatus to enter the house. The off duty firefighter was subsequently treated for smoke inhalation.

Tributes have been paid to Mr McCabe — whose funeral mass will be held this morning at St Patrick’s Church in Downpatrick at 11am — by his daughter Mary, who described him as a “loving, wonderful father.” 

A father of two, Mr McCabe, was a retired psychiatric nurse and has been described by Cathedral View residents as a “good neighbour.” He is also survived by his wife Josephine and son Jonathan.

Last weekend’s blaze was the second tragedy to hit Downpatrick in a matter of days. On Wednesday of last week, former resident Dennis Rodgers, who had moved to Rathfriland, died after he fell down a hole and hit his head in his back yard.

Mr Rodgers (43), who was a father of two, was buried following a funeral service held on Monday at St. John the Baptist Church in Hilltown. His body was discovered by a neighbour and it’s understood a health and safety investigation is underway into the circumstances surrounding the tragedy.

One of his younger brothers, Darren, told reporters that the house Mr Rodgers had rented had run out of heating oil and he had gone to a local filling station to get some.

“He had walked to the filling station and brought back a jar of oil to keep him going. There was some construction work going on in the back yard and Dennis was trying to empty the oil into the tank,” Darren explained.

“It looks like he slipped and fell into a deep hole in the yard, hitting his head on the concrete. The last calls on his phone were on the previous Monday evening so sadly he lay in the hole from then until he was found late on Wednesday evening by his neighbour.”

Darren described his brother as “a real outgoing fella who loved life” explaining he was a plasterer by trade and everyone knew him. 

Darren added: “Dennis was separated from his wife and deeply loved his kids. They have been hit bad by this. He was a good brother and would have done anything for anyone. We will miss him dearly.”

Politicians including South Down MP Margaret Ritchie, Chris Hazzard MLA and Newry, Mourne and Down Council chairman Mickey Ruane have extended their sympathy to the McCabe and Rodgers families.

At Monday night’s monthly council meeting, councillor Ruane said the local authority would wish to extend its condolences to the families affected by the tragedies in Downpatrick and Rathfriland.