Young children were inside a home targeted in an arson attack in the early hours of Thursday morning.
A shed was set on fire outside a house in City Way in Sandy Row.
It is understood there were three young kids in the house at the time, as well as a number of children in neighbouring houses.
Belfast city centre fire causes North Street closure
A fire service spokesman confirmed that they were called at 3.56am and sent two fire engines from Central station.
They said that the shed was "well alight" and it was caused by "deliberate ignition".
Belfast tanning salon robbed by brazen passer-by
Community worker at Belfast South Community Resources Trevor Greer said: "This could have ended in a tragedy, there were young children in this and the adjacent properties.
Sandy Row community worker hits out as seven cars damaged on same street
"I would ask for anyone involved in this type of incident to stop."
The PSNI has been contacted for comment.
Keep up-to-date with all the very latest news, what's on, sport and everything else in Belfast and beyond with the Belfast Live app.
Only select news that interests you by picking the topics you want to display on the app's homepage. Plus, our enhanced user experience includes live blogs, video, interactive maps and slick picture galleries. Download it now and get involved.
Click here to get it from the App Store or here for Google Play .