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28 January 2011
Last updated at 05:44 ET
Three houses have been badly damaged in an arson attack at Rathfern Way in Newtownabbey, County Antrim.
Five fire engines and an aerial appliance attended the blaze on Thursday night. No-one was injured.
Maureen Ritchie, who lives next door to the house where the fire began, said it spread very quickly.
"It started apparently in a rubbish bin which was set alight, but who knows until it's fully investigated," she said.
"Within a few minutes the whole two houses were absolutely in flames."
David Heyburn of the NI Fire and Rescue Service said the fire had started in two oil tanks before spreading to the houses.
He said six properties had been evacuated and those residents affected were staying with relatives.
"The fire was complicated by the presence of some gas cylinders which we had to take account of during the fire-fighting process," he said.
"It was a severe fire.
"The residents of the two properties that were first affected by the fire were very fortunate.
"They are related and were having an evening meal together, but a gentleman from one of the neighbouring properties was able to alert them to it and they were able to quickly get out."
Mr Heyburn said the fire had spread from the oil tanks to the properties "within a matter of minutes".
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Five fire engines and an aerial appliance attended the blaze on Thursday night. No-one was injured.
Maureen Ritchie, who lives next door to the house where the fire began, said it spread very quickly.
"It started apparently in a rubbish bin which was set alight, but who knows until it's fully investigated," she said.
"Within a few minutes the whole two houses were absolutely in flames."
David Heyburn of the NI Fire and Rescue Service said the fire had started in two oil tanks before spreading to the houses.
He said six properties had been evacuated and those residents affected were staying with relatives.
"The fire was complicated by the presence of some gas cylinders which we had to take account of during the fire-fighting process," he said.
"It was a severe fire.
"The residents of the two properties that were first affected by the fire were very fortunate.
"They are related and were having an evening meal together, but a gentleman from one of the neighbouring properties was able to alert them to it and they were able to quickly get out."
Mr Heyburn said the fire had spread from the oil tanks to the properties "within a matter of minutes".
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