Fire crews attended the scene in Londonderry. Stock photo
A man has been taken to hospital after an arson attack in Londonderry.
Detectives are treating the house fire in the Slaughtmanus Road area during the early hours of today, Thursday, as arson with intent to endanger life.
A male occupant in the property was asleep when he was alerted to the blaze by the sound of his smoke alarm and his dog barking.
He managed to escape with his dog through a window after which he tackled the fire using a garden hose until the arrival of the the NI Fire & Rescue Service.
Considerable smoke damage has been caused to the property as a result of the fire, which NIFRS believe was deliberately started.
The male occupant was treated at the scene by ambulance crews and subsequently taken to hospital for treatment of the effects of smoke inhalation.
Fire crews attended the scene in Londonderry. Stock photo
News Catch Up – Thursday 8 May
Detective Inspector Connolly said: “This will have been an extremely distressing ordeal for the male occupant, and it is sheer fortunate he was able to get out of the property.
“This was a reprehensible attack which we’re investigating as arson with intent to endanger life. Enquiries are ongoing to establish who was involved and why this occurred.
“We’re appealing to anyone who may have been travelling in this area around 3am, or who has information or relevant dash cam which may assist our enquiries, to call us on 101, quoting reference 124 of 08/05/25.”