Pensioner escapes from house fire

The fire broke out at a house in Isoline Street

A 90-year-old man has been treated in hospital for the effects of smoke inhalation following a house fire in east Belfast.

The blaze began in a downstairs room at the pensioner's home in Isoline Street on Monday after 2200 GMT.

David Patton, from the Fire and Rescue Service, said the fire may have been started by a candle.

"There was an elderly gentleman who had rescued himself. We found that there were traces of a candle," he said.

"There appeared to be no signs of any smoke alarms throughout the house. I think he was very lucky that he was wide awake or else there could have been more disastrous circumstances."

It is understood that the fire started in the living room of the house and spread to the kitchen.

The pensioner managed to escape and raise the alarm.

However, the downstairs of the house is badly damaged and a living room is in danger of collapse.