A woman has died in a fire at a flat in Downpatrick, Co Down.
Lorraine Smyth (33) died in hospital shortly after she was rescued unconscious from the kitchen of the first-floor property on Oriel Drive in the town. A man who managed to get out of the building shortly after the fire started at about 6.20pm on Tuesday is being treated in hospital for the effects of smoke inhalation.
Police do not suspect a crime.
According to the North's Fire and Rescue Service neighbours tried to rescue Ms Smyth but were beaten back by the flames and smoke. Downpatrick Fire Station commander Brian Irvine described the blaze as "intense and fast developing".
A smoke detector, which was connected to mains electricity, had been fitted but it was unclear if it had been working at the time of the blaze. Three appliances and 20 fire officers were on scene at the height of the blaze.
"The fire officers are pretty upset," said Mr Irvine. "They pride themselves on protecting their community, they are local guys who live in Downpatrick. They put themselves in there and did everything they possibly could but unfortunately this time it was in vain."
In another incident in Co Antrim a great-grandmother escaped unhurt from her home after it was attacked and deliberately set alight. Anne Henry (59) said she was targeted by a gang of vandals because of her local opposition to illegal drugs. The incident, in the early hours of yesterday was the latest in a series of attacks, she claimed, adding that she was being constantly harassed. She said windows had been broken and curtains set ablaze at her home in the West Road estate in Portglenone.
She told BBC Northern Ireland: "I am absolutely petrified. A fire bomb came through the window and the next thing the curtain was on fire." One man has been arrested in connection with the attack.