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Two people killed in separate house fires

News imageBBC A police car parked outside a house on Abbey Drive after a fatal fireBBC
A woman in her 50s died at the scene of a house fire in Abbey Drive in Bangor, County Down

Two people have died in house fires in Bangor, County Down and north Belfast on Friday.

A man in his 20s was pronounced dead at the scene of a blaze at Queen Victoria Gardens in Belfast that was extinguished by firefighters at about 11:00 GMT.

The second fire happened at Abbey Park in Bangor about an hour and a half later.

It was also put out by the fire service, but a woman in her 50s died at the scene.

News imageThe picture shows a police car parked outside a block of flats on a Belfast Street at night-time
A man died in the first fire at Queen Victoria Gardens in north Belfast

Police said enquiries are ongoing into the circumstances surrounding both fires, but at this stage it is not believed the deaths are suspicious.

The Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service (NIFRS) said they rescued two people from the Queen Victoria Gardens fire but "tragically, a man, aged in his 20s, died at the scene".

News imageFlowers have been left outside the property on Abbey Drive in Bangor
Flowers have been left outside the property on Abbey Drive in Bangor

They added that the fire was out on arrival at the Abbey Park park incident and firefighters assisted with first aid on three causalities.

NIFRS Area Commander Suzanne Fleming said: "These incidents serve as a stark reminder of how quickly fires can break out and how devastating their impact can be."

The NIFRS urged the public to check their smoke alarms and ensure they are working correctly, check in on vulnerable family, friends, neighbours, and have a fire escape plan.