An elderly couple have been rescued from their home in Kilrush after a fire at a business premises in the town.
A wheelie bin was set on fire outside Tully's Bookmakers on Henry Street, above which the couple live.
Gardaí in Co Clare confirmed they are treating the blaze as suspicious.
Three units of the fire service from Kilrush and Kilkee attended the scene.
Gardaí and fire personnel had to force open a door that led to the upstairs part of the building to rescue the occupants.
They found the elderly couple asleep and took them to safety.
The scene has been examined by a garda forensic team and the street has since reopened to traffic.
Gardaí are examining CCTV footage taken from premises in the area.
They have issued an appeal for anyone who was in the Henry Street area between 12.55am and 1.15am this morning to contact them at tel:(065) 9051017.
The couple are now being cared for by family and it is not known when they can return to their home.
