Two men have been arrested following an arson attack on a house in Derry last night. A woman, her 10-year-old son and their pet dog were rescued from the fire today during an early morning arson attack on their home.
The fire service said the pair are lucky to be alive after a flammable substance was poured through the letterbox and set alight, trapping them upstairs.
They were woken up by a smoke alarm in the house at around 4.30am and called the Fire and Rescue Service from a bedroom.
The woman and her son and a family pet were rescued a short time later.
The PSNI said two men, aged 20 and 18, have been arrested in relation to the blaze at Harty Court in the Ballymagroarty area of Derry.
District commander Willie Lynch said the family were "extremely lucky to be alive".
"We and the police are completely satisfied it was a deliberate ignition by someone pouring a flammable liquid in a letterbox and lighting it," he said.
"Obviously anyone that does that should fully know that they are putting someone's life at risk."
The woman and her son were treated in hospital for smoke inhalation and released a short time later. Police are appealing for anyone who witnessed suspicious activity in the area around the time of the attack to contact them.