‘The fire spread rapidly and was intense...people could have died here’

‘The fire spread rapidly and was intense...people could have died here’

14 December 2016

CRAIG Dornan said he is thankful no one died in last week’s arson attack and admitted residents in the area do not feel safe.

Mr Dornan, who lives in the same apartment block targeted by the arsonists, was woken from his sleep by a neighbour around 3.30am. When he went outside, he could hear crackling and saw flames licking the rear of the building.

“I was sleeping when my neighbour started banging on the door shouting ‘fire, fire’ and when I looked outside I saw the flames,” he recalled.

“The flames caught the roof of the apartment block and soon after I went outside an ambulance arrived. I was very nervous as I was not sure if everyone got out safely, especially one of my neighbours who lives in an upstairs flat and who has hearing problems.”

Mr Dornan said he dreads to think what could have happened given the ferocity of the blaze if his neighbour had not raised the alarm.

“The fire spread quite rapidly and was intense. People could have died here. There are eight flats in this block, four of which have been extensively damaged, while the other four sustained smoke damage.

Mr Dornan said his home was “caked in smoke” and he will have no option but to move out. He said the arson attack was the last thing residents needed just two weeks before Christmas.

“We are thankful no one lost their life. Homes and their contents can be replaced and we are grateful to the firefighters who tackled the blaze,” said the Burrendale Park Road resident.

He added: “We are concerned there have been a number of arson attacks in this area and people are not feeling too safe at the moment. I moved here two years ago and feel more needs to be done to apprehended whoever is starting these fires. People believe all the incidents may be linked as the pattern is the same — setting fire to oil tanks. We want this to end.”