Five children were rescued from a house fire in Belfast yesterday.
The children were taken to hospital, along with four adults, after the fire in Springfield Road, west Belfast, which ignited at about midnight. A five year old child remained in critical condition last night.
The children were staying at the home of their grandmother, who was woken up by her fire alarm and raised the alert.
Fire service officers believe the fire was started accidentally.
William Laverty, of the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service, said: "The two fathers of the children had rescued four of the children and attempted, unfortunately in vain, to get to the fifth child.
"Because of the thick, acrid smoke, they just could not get into the house. She was trapped in a first-floor bedroom. She was very quickly located and transported to hospital."
The family are being treated in hospital. The children are aged between five and 12.
Three fire engines and seven ambulances attended. There were 15 firefighters at the scene. They used breathing apparatus to save the fifth child after relatives were forced back by the smoke.
Mr Laverty added: "It was only by the grace of God that they had a smoke alarm. If there had been no working smoke alarm, which costs less than £5, we would be looking at five fatalities today."
(PA)