A fire destroyed a large section of a large farm-feed milling plant in Co Monaghan yesterday. David Patton Ltd, which operates Milltown Mills at Monaghan town, said last night its services would be maintained.
A five-storey section of the milling plant was destroyed and for a time a number of local dwellings were evacuated as a precautionary measure while flames leaped into the sky, showering sparks over a wide radius. It is believed the blaze started in the production area and had gone undetected for some time.
Fire units from Monaghan town, Clones, Carrickmacross, Castleblayney and Dundalk were called and battled for several hours to bring the blaze under control. One fireman sustained a minor injury and was removed to Monaghan General Hospital but discharged later yesterday.