A SMOKE alarm saved the life of an Armagh woman who was forced to jump from an upstairs bedroom of her burning home.
The woman, aged in her fifties, escaped from the first floor of her home in Navan Court after a blaze ripped through the building at around 8.30pm on Tuesday.
It is believed the woman suffered smoke inhalation and minor injuries after she jumped to safety.
Fire chiefs say the blaze began in a ground floor living room of the house and may have been started by smoking material.
It is understood the woman was in an upstairs bedroom and was alerted by a fire alarm going off.
Alan O'Neill, group commander with the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service, described the fire as "extensive".
He revealed that neighbours had unsuccessfully tried to help the woman escape from the burning house before she managed to get herself out of the building.
A smoke alarm alerted the occupier to this serious fire this evening. What's protecting you tonight?#stopfire pic.twitter.com/dnPfwrct7b
— NIFRSSouth (@nifrssouth) March 29, 2016
Up to 20 fire fighters from Keady and Armagh arrived at the scene shortly after she escaped.
Mr O’Neill said it is vital that people make sure they have working smoke alarms in their homes.
“This shows the importance of a working smoke alarm and the reality is it saved this woman’s life on this occasion,” he said.
“If the smoke alarm had not been (fitted) there was probably little chance she would have been able to get out of the property.”
