Emergency services were alerted to the scene in East Belfast in the early hours of Friday morning
A woman from East Belfast has shared her shock and fear after she was evacuated from her home following an arson attack at her neighbour’s house in the early hours of this morning.
Marion Baxter had been asleep when she was told by the Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service she had to leave her house in the Wilgar Close area in the early hours of Friday morning, September 12.
Emergency services were alerted to the blaze by Marion’s daughter, who spotted the perpetrator when she was coming home shortly before 2am. Police have issued an appeal regarding the incident, which they are treating as arson.
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Speaking to Belfast Live, Marion said: “It was just pure luck that we got out. My daughter was coming home with her boyfriend, and saw the perpetrator come up the street dressed in black with a black balaclava on.
“She saw him going around the side and he must have gained entrance according to what CID (Criminal Investigation Department) said through a back door that was left open, he was able to go in and do whatever he did. My daughter came home, saw this, and called the police and fire service.”
As for the moment she was woken with the news, Marion, who has lived in the house for 38 years, said: “I have multiple sclerosis, and my husband has Alzheimer’s. My four year old grandson has also been living with us as well as my daughter, and we’re lucky to have got out.
“We were told carbon monoxide was in our loft already, so we had to get out of the house and sit in the street. It took me ages getting up out of bed and the two girls from the fire service had to help me with my shoes.”
Marion said she has been worried about a spate of trouble in the area recently, and said she has not seen anything like it before. She said: “I’ve lived in this house for 38 years. I have lots of neighbours and friends around here.
“I’ve lived in East Belfast my whole life, I was brougt up here, and I’ve never seen anything like the trouble there has been recently. There’s a really bad epidemic here at the minute. The ironic thing is I bought a Ring doorbell and camera for the back of my house, which were meant to be installed today.
“I’ve been contacted by my eldest two children this morning who live far away after they saw the news story. There could have been fatalities here very easily. It’s really impacted me, I’m fearful to go to sleep tonight.”
Issuing an appeal for information, PSNI Sergeant Miller said: “Shortly before 2am, colleagues from Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service reported to police that an unoccupied house was on fire.
“On attendance, it was established that the blaze had started in the living room of the property. Substantial damage was caused and an older person in an adjoining property had to be evacuated for their safety.
“We are grateful that the consequences of this were not much more serious, and are investigating the report as arson.
“Officers remain at the scene this morning, and we would appeal to anyone who may have witnessed anything suspicious in the area last night to contact us on 101, quoting reference number 82 12/09/25.
“Alternatively, you can submit a report online at psni.police.uk/report or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online at http://crimestoppers-uk.org/.”
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