Andrew Carey
andrew@limerickpost.ie
FIRE crews from Limerick Fire and Rescue were joined by appliances and firefighters from Shannon and Cappamore this Friday night as they contained a fire which broke out at a city hotel.
The fire, at the Limerick City hotel on the Dock Road, broke out sometime after 9pm and guests of the hotel and patrons of McGettigans bar on the ground floor were evacuated as the fire spread through the upstairs bedrooms.
It is understood that the fire which broke out somewhere on the first floor between the external and inner walls, was contained after a number of hours but extensive smoke damage has been caused as fire crews were forced to break into the front facade of the building to source the origin.
Four appliances, including the aerial platform “bronto” arrived on scene within minutes to tackle the incident.
A garda perimeter was also put in place and the area including Mallow Street and down to the Dock Road was closed off.
Fire crews from Cappamore and Shannon were also called to the hotel which is on the site of the former Jury’s Inn.
A large section of the front of the hotel building was removed by firefighters to allow them access and to contain the blaze as rooms became smoke filled and damaged.
There are no reports of any injuries and crews remained at the scene until 3am.
Fire investigators are likely to begin the forensic investigation into the cause of the fire.
Upwards of 100 guests and patrons from the hotel and the adjoining bar were evacuated during the alarm.
Meantime, crews from Killaloe and Shannon dealt with other minor incidents in the city and provided cover while the Limerick City Hotel incident was controlled and successfully dealt with.
