Coal and brickettes fuelled major warehouse fire

Trucks loaded with timber, coal, and brickettes fuelled the devastating fire that destroyed a warehouse in county Cork on Sunday, but what started the fire remains unknown.

Emergency services were alerted just after 11pm on Sunday night to the blaze in Little Island which is reported to have cause millions of euros worth of damage.

It is understood at least 11 articulated trucks loaded with goods ready for delivery provided a large fuel load for the fire. The sound of explosions could be heard across Cork Harbour.

Fire crews from both the Cobh and Cork City Fire Brigade were initially mobilised; however, additional resources were called in when personnel saw the scale of the plume of smoke rising from the warehouse.

Ariel platforms and water tankers responded from Midleton, Mallow, and Bandon fire stations. Cork County Fire Service’s Incident Command Unit also attended from Carrigaline Fire Station.

According to the Cork County Fire Service, the building was “well alight” with flames coming through the roof in the eastern part of the warehouse when they arrived.

“The contents of the warehouse provided a large fuel load consisting of numerous rigid and artic trucks loaded with timber, coal, brickettes etc. ready for delivery,” a spokesperson said.

The fire crews fought the fire throughout the night and brought it under control at approximately 2am on Monday morning.

“In difficult circumstances, all brigades worked well together and prevented the fire spreading to two neighbouring buildings,” said the spokesperson.

Midleton and Cobh Fire Brigades remained at the scene throughout the night and were relieved by Youghal Fire Brigade in the morning.

Damping down operations continued into Monday afternoon.

The Cork County Fire Service confirmed the cause of the fire remains unknown. Firewater runoff from the incident was contained on site and a specialist environmental company was brought in to safely remove it.