Fire destroys city enterprise centre

Dublin City Council's dangerous buildings department will this morning consider the demolition of an enterprise centre which was destroyed by fire over the weekend.

Fire broke out at the Liffey Trust Enterprise Centre, in the docklands area of the north inner city, shortly after 6 a.m. on Saturday morning.

It is understood it started in the basement of the building and engulfed the entire premises within an hour.

It burned for about 15 hours before 10 units of Dublin Fire Brigade managed to extinguish the flames. About 30 people were in the building at the time and all escaped unhurt.

Mr Michael Harney, Dublin Fire Brigade District Officer, was at the scene of the still-smouldering building yesterday afternoon.

He said the fire had been almost extinguished by about noon on Saturday.

"But then there were two explosions and the fire took off again."

He said canisters of acetylene and propane gas, used in welding, were on the premises and caused two large explosions early on Saturday afternoon.

"We had it under control and the building was about a third damaged. Then with the explosions the fire took hold and caused much more extensive damage".

The Liffey Trust, which owns the building, is a registered charity. The trust helps small businesses get started, advising them on business plans and and other issues. About 80 business units were housed at the enterprise centre employing an estimated 300 people.

Among them were the Slovak bakery which supplies the Patrick Guilbaud restaurant; Rochelle Foods, production kitchen for the Perk chain of coffee shops; Allbright detergent manufacturers and the Colm de Ris pottery company.

Though the building was insured, it is understood a number of the small businesses were not.

Mr Kevin Murphy, co-owner of Patisserie Royal, said he had insurance but he warned that he would have to restart production within four days.

His company employs 12 people and yesterday he moved equipment to another premises which he and his partner, Mr Derek Crowley, had secured over the weekend.

Ms Renata Brickley, owner of Renata Design, ran a textile-design business from the centre. "My equipment survived. I have textile printing equipment, screens. Now I will have to find new premises. For sure I will lose money," she said, but added she did have insurance.

Mr Harney said he would advise the dangerous buildings department to inspect the premises this morning. "And they will decide whether it should be demolished. It's an awful pity," he said.