Neighbour rescues children from burning dwelling

A Castletown family was lucky to escape serious injury after a fire broke out in their home on St Patrick's night. But for the quick actions of neighbours who alerted the fire brigade and rescued two children from the house at Hillside Drive, the outcome could have been a lot more serious. It is understood that a neighbour alerted the fire service after noticing smoke coming from the house shortly before 10pm. A 21-year-old neighbour was quick to act and used a long ladder to reach the upstairs window of the house to rescue the two children who had been in bed upstairs. It is understood that both parents and the children were all taken to hospital by ambulance to be treated for smoke inhalation. The emergency call was received at approximately 9.50pm and a crew from Nobber Fire Service rushed to the scene. Navan Fire Service also arrived as back-up. Firefighters entered the house with breathing apparatus to bring the fire under control and personnel remained on the scene until approximately 12.20am. It is believed that the fire started in the kitchen and travelled up through the ceiling to an upstairs back bedroom and spread to the front of the house. Extensive damage was caused to the home in the outbreak. Nobber Fire Service and Kells Fire Service also attended a fire at Stahalmog, Kells, at around 2pm on Sunday afternoon. It is believed that the fire began in the kitchen area and had been brought under control by the residents with a fire extinguisher when the fire crews arrived on the scene. Firefighters remained at the scene for approximately one hour. It is understood that damage was confined to the kitchen area.