Two rescued from blaze in flat complex

Conor Feehan

TWO people had a lucky escape when they were rescued from an apartment fire in Balbriggan early this morning.

The fire broke out just before 6.30am in the first floor of the McNeill Hall complex at George's Hall, near the train station in the town.

Four units of Dublin Fire Brigade fought the blaze through the co-ordination of a District Officer and a Third Officer. "Two people were rescued from a window of the building within five minutes of the fire brigade arriving," said a spokesman. It is believed they were not injured.

Many apartments in the complex had to be evacuated as the fire was brought under control, and local residents still in their nightclothes huddled near the scene in the rain.

Gardai are investigating the cause of the blaze. Local sources said a window had been broken at the apartment complex in recent days and a mattress was placed against it.

cfeehan@herald.ie