The fire which destroyed a factory and led to the evacuation of the Co Mayo town of Belmullet was still smouldering last night.
Approximately 700 people were evacuated by emergency services on Thursday and returned to their homes yesterday. The town has a population of about 1,000. Four units of the fire brigade were still at work yesterday. A mechanical digger sifted through the huge pile of rubble which is all that remains of the 30,000 square foot plant, as firemen hosed smouldering debris.
The fire broke out at around 2 p.m. on Thursday during a normal work shift at the rubber mat company. It immediately engulfed the premises, forcing staff and residents in neighbouring houses to flee the area.
A recommendation from the Environmental Protection Agency that the residents of the town be evacuated, due to the toxic fumes, was quickly implemented by members of the Garda and the Western Health Board.
The factory, leased by Cow Comforts Ltd, was totally destroyed in the blaze. The Minister of State for the Arts, Culture, Gaeltacht and the Islands, Mr Eamon O Cuiv, and members of the board of Udaras na Gaeltachta held a meeting yesterday with the plant owner, Mr Tom Duffy, and many of the workers. Mr O Cuiv said every assistance would be given to co-ordinate the efforts of the relevant agencies in rebuilding the factory. He is to have a further meeting with the owner on Tuesday. O Cuiv said. Mr Padraig O hAolain, spokesman for Udar as na Gaeltachta, said that it was confident of providing temporary accommodation in two units which are currently vacant. The authority hoped to have staff back at work by the middle of next week, Mr O hAolain said. As soon as insurance assessments are carried out, it would be seeking planning permission to rebuild the plant.
County councillor and member of Udaras na Gaeltachta Mr Tim Quinn said the workers were devastated at the loss of the plant which was "a flagship industry in the Mayo Gaeltacht". He said he believed the factory would reopen on the same site within six months.
Mr Quinn said the Environment Protection Agency would be involved in planning the new factory. "The fire did create a bit of anxiety among the general public and we want to be assured that all precautions are taken," he said.
The fire had come at a very bad time for the Mayo Gaeltacht; the North Hydro plant, eight miles away in Geesala is due to close over the coming weeks with the loss of 43 jobs, he said.
Garda Michael Farrell said the fire and the evacuation had been particularly stressful for older people. "It's serious when someone comes and tells you you have to leave your home. It was very hard for them," he said.
The fire-fighting operation stretched the town's water supply to the limits but environmental health officers with the Western Health Board said that water quality had not been affected. The health board was also involved in transporting patients back to the district hospital and old people's home, after some 80 patients and elderly residents were taken to hospitals in Castlebar, Ballina and Swinford. Other patients will be taken back over the weekend, pending evaluation of their fitness to travel.
The Mayo county secretary, Mr Padraig Hughes, said he was pleased at the smooth operation of the emergency action plan, involving gardai, Civil Defence, the Mayo fire brigade and Western Health Board.