Two firefighters injured in blaze

TWO FIREFIGHTERS were injured and some 200 people evacuated from the Guinness brewery at St James’s Gate, Dublin, yesterday when a fire started during roof repairs on a storage warehouse at the site.

Fifteen units of Dublin Fire Brigade attended the blaze, including three aerial appliances with turntable ladders, after the alarm was raised at 12.10pm.

Flames shot through the building for a short time and billowing smoke could be seen for miles while fire crews fought to bring the blaze under control.

The roof of the building, partly made of felt, caught fire during routine repairs.

It is understood that a blow torch was being used in the repairs and much of the smoke from the fire was attributed to tar and felt on the roof.

The firefighters were injured in an ammonia blast in the building and were taken to St James’s Hospital as a precaution, according to Dublin Fire Brigade. It is believed they were wearing full chemical protection suits at the time. Their condition was last night described as comfortable.

The blaze was fully under control by 3.30pm and staff were given access at 3.45pm.

A Garda inquiry and an internal Diageo investigation are already under way.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will also investigate the fire, while the Health and Safety Authority (HSA) said the incident was “first and foremost a fire and a matter for the fire service” but that “down the line” the HSA would have a role.

Noel Doolan, warehouse controller at the site, described the building as an old lager plant where a number of tanks were stored.

The warehouse adjoins a building where gas and chemicals are kept, and this was the main concern. “If the fire brigade hadn’t caught it, it would have been a major problem. Half the quays would have went up if that went up,” Mr Doolan added.

Brewing at the plant was stopped briefly, but a Diageo spokeswoman said production continued at other parts of the plant and there would be no interruption to supply.

The Guinness site is divided into two main sections. The building in question is in what is described as the lower end of the St James’s Gate site, near the Victoria Quay entrance. Staff in the immediate area were evacuated first, and then the entire lower section of the 50-acre plant was evacuated. Approximately 500 people work at the plant and some 200 were evacuated during the fire.

The Diageo spokeswoman said the fire service was on site within minutes. “We have initiated a full investigation of what happened and we’re also assessing the full extent of the damage,” the spokeswoman added.

Services on the Luas line to Tallaght were halted for about an hour on all stops between Blackhorse and Smithfield as a precaution, because of the line’s location close to the Victoria Quay site.