Three people were treated in hospital today after firefighters rescued them from a house fire in Co Down.
The fire broke out in a flat in Ardilea Park in Downpatrick and the alarm was raised at around 5.20am.
When crews arrived at the first floor flat they discovered people were trapped inside the building. Police had tried to rescue them but were beaten back by smoke and heat.
Firefighters found the victims on the floor of the kitchen suffering from severe smoke inhalation and managed to get them out the flat.
Further searches were made for another woman but it was later discovered she had escaped before the arrival of the firefighters.
All three were attended to by paramedics and taken to Downe Hospital. A pet dog died in the fire. Police said they were not treating the blaze as suspicious.