FOUR PEOPLE, INCLUDING three children, were hospitalised in the early hours of this morning following a suspected arson attack on a house in Ballyfermot.

The fire broke out shortly after midnight at a single-storey family home in the Labre Park area of Ballyfermot in West Dublin.

Gardaí and emergency services attended the scene.

The occupants of the house, including a woman and three children, were evacuated by firefighters shortly after their arrival.

It’s understood that one child could not be evacuated through the front door of the house, and instead was evacuated through the window of the living room.

Firefighters from Dolphins Barn and Tallaght stations extinguished the fire shortly after this.

The occupants’ pet dog is also understood to have died in the fire.

All four occupants of the house were brought to hospital to be treated for non life-threatening injuries following the incident.

Local Sinn Féin councillor Daithí Doolan condemned the incident, labelling the suspected arson attack as “cowardly, wrong, and totally unacceptable”.

The attack has left a family homeless and lucky to be alive.

“I wish to extend my heartfelt sympathy to this local family,” Doolan said. “I hope they get the support they deserve to help them through this very difficult time.”

“Those involved must be caught and must face justice,” Doolan added.

People Before Profit councillor Hazel de Nortúin similarly condemned the suspected arson, and said that the death of a family pet “adds another layer of trauma” to the residents of the Labre Park property.

She added that arson incidents in the area are “out of control”.

De Nortúin said that there was a “worrying trend” of women and children becoming targets of fire attacks on properties.

The incident in Ballyfermot follows two major arson attacks this week, including a fire attack on a woman in Clondalkin on Tuesday and an assault on a woman in Leixlip, Co Kildare on Monday morning.

Gardaí confirmed that they were alerted to the incident at 12.45am this morning.

A technical examination of the scene has since been completed by gardaí.

“Investigations are ongoing,” a garda spokesperson said.