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26 January 2012
Inferno
THE FACT that no-one was injured in the blaze which engulfed an apartment complex in New Ross at the weekend has been described as a miracle.
The fire broke out shortly after 4 p.m. on Friday, at the Kennedy Plaza building on North Quay.
Emergency services were quick to arrive at the scene and the area was cordoned off.
Speaking to The Echo about the incident Chief Station Officer with New Ross Fire Service, Cyril McGarr said it was lucky no-one was injured.
“A number of factors were actually against us,” he said. “The high winds and it’s an old building meant we were up against it.”
He said the initial main concern was what way debris from the blaze would fall.
“Luckily, it fell inwards mostly and that was a good thing.”
Six units of the Fire Service tended the blaze and the two new Ross crews were assisted by personnel from Wexford and Enniscorthy.
The report was received by the local fire service at 4.31 p.m. and they arrived at the scene at 4.36 p.m.
Upon arrival they were met by members of the Gardai including Gda. Michelle Power and Gda. Kevin Dooley who are being hailed as heroes.
Mr. McGarr said the Gardai did an exemplary job in dealing with the situation at hand.
“When we got there the Gardai were actually assisting the last of the people to leave the building and that made our job all the more easy,” he said.
“They were absolutely excellent and I couldn’t praise them enough for what they did it was well and above the call of duty.”
He also said the fire-fighters’ minds were put at rest when it was ascertained within an hour-and-a half that all of the people living in the apartment block were accounted for.
“That made our job a lot easier,” he said.
The fire broke out in the roof space of the building and sped very quickly from there. Due to the ferocity of the blaze the fire fighters were not able to enter the building and according to Mr. McGarr they adopted a ‘defensive fire fighting’ approach.
This meant their main focus of attention was on containing the fire and preventing it from spreading to neighbouring buildings. The block in which the building is located was evacuated.
New Ross Town Council officials set up an exclusion zone around the area and Mr. McGarr said everyone involved in tackling the incident was to be commended.
“From the Town Council and their staff to the Gardai and ambulance service this was a job well done,” he said.
“The co-ordination between the different bodies was brilliant,” he added. However, he also highlighted the fact that the actions of his own crews were outstanding.
“I wouldn’t normally look for praise for the lads and they don’t either as they see it as just doing their job but the work they did at preventing a disaster last weekend has to be acknowledged,” he said.
“They were like hares out of traps when we got down there and it made my job a lot easier to control the situation. They were fantastic.”
Twenty-six fire fighters attended the scene and they remained on site until 5 a.m. the next morning. They were called to return to the blaze at 7.15 a.m. to deal with smouldering embers.
However, by that stage there was no danger of the building reigniting. It was at that time that they were also able to better assess the overall damage done to the building.
Mr. McGarr acknowledged the owners of properties adjacent to the building and business owners in North Street who allowed access to their premises for the fire fighters.
“We had an ambulance on standby for the duration but thankfully neither the civilians nor fire crew members were injured,” he said.
Mr. McGarr paid tribute to the Town and Co. Council officials and staff who assisted his teams and also to the traders who also offered help in dealing with the catastrophe.
Assistant Chief Fire Officer, Colm McGrath was also in attendance at the blaze from when it broke out.
Co. Manager, Eddie Breen, was at the scene on Saturday and complimented each of the fire fighters for their heroism. Government Chief Whip, Paul Kehoe, also visited the scene over the weekend.
With regard to his own crews in New Ross, Mr. McGarr commented: “Without their assistance and enthusiasm this situation would have been a whole lot worse. The effectiveness of how they dealt with it prevented it from spreading.”
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