A WOMAN in her sixties has died following a Co Down house fire.
Emergency services were tasked to the blaze at a detached property at Ballymenoch Road in Holywood around 4.30pm on Friday, with fire engines from both the Holywood and Knock stations involved in the operation.
Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus quickly brought the fire under control, but a 66-year-old woman was found dead inside the house.
Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue service (NIFRS) group commander Max Joyce said they were alerted to the blaze by a neighbour who spotted smoke coming from the eaves of the property.
"On arrival they deployed two breathing apparatus teams and immediately started searches using a thermal imaging camera and extinguished the fire," he told the BBC.
"Eventually they found the body of a 66-year-old lady within the property itself."
The exact cause of the fire is unknown at this stage and the identity of the deceased has yet to be revealed.
DUP MLA Gordon Dunne expressed shock.
"I am saddened to learn that a lady has died in a house fire in Holywood and my thoughts and prayers go out to the family and friends of this lady at this time," he said
"This house fire took place in a quiet residential area. I know the local community is also saddened by this tragic event."
Alliance councillor, Andrew Muir also expressed his sympathies.
"It's a bit of a shock to the local community, but thankfully these things don't happen very often. Obviously there's a investigation under way, which will reveal the cause of the fire and I think that is important," he said.
A PSNI spokesperson said the cause of the fire had not yet been determined and would be subject to investigation.
