Around 40 businesses severely damaged after fire at Waterford city industrial estate

AROUND 40 BUSINESSES have been severely damaged following a fire that broke out in an industrial estate in Waterford city on Saturday.

The fire broke out at a commercial premises at the old Jute Factory on Tycor Avenue at around 6.30pm on Saturday evening and was brought under control yesterday.

In a statement last night, Waterford City Fire Service said its crews had to “battle for many hours to try to contain and stop the fire spread which was vast”.

The fire service thanked the public for staying away from the scene and “letting us operate safely” and for heeding the safety advice.

The public had been urged to close all doors and windows if there is a smell of smoke in the vicinity.

While Waterford City and County Council’s management team said the presence of an asbestos bound cement roof on the building was not confirmed, it added that it was “proceeding on the basis that asbestos is present”.

Waterford City Fire Service also thanked neighbouring fire services for assisting in tackling the blaze.

“We also feel for the 40 odd business owners that are waking this morning to the loss of their businesses and hope they can rise from the ashes and rebuild,” said Waterford City Fire Service.

Minister of State for Local Government and Planning, John Cummins, last night said the government is assessing how to support businesses and groups impacted by the fire.

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Cummins said he had spoken with the Minister for Enterprise and Employment, Peter Burke, on how his Department can assist

He added that a “number of Departments will look at standing up a humanitarian scheme to assist businesses and groups impacted by the devastating fire”.

“I spoke with minister Burke and he and Government are committed to supporting those impacted,” said Cummins.

Burke will visit Waterford City to engage with businesses impacted.

Cummins also paid tribute to the “brave fire service personnel who battled to get this devastating fire under control”.

“My thoughts are with the business owners, employees and residents in the surrounding area who have had their lives turned upside down,” he added.

The owner of DG Foods said his business is “all ash” following the fire.

Speaking on RTÉ’s Morning Ireland, Andrew Hepburn said his business has been operating out of Tycor Avenue for two decades.

“It’s just ash, there’s nothing left,” Hepburn told RTÉ. “It’s just complete dust.”

While his food business can continue to operate because it has a second location, Hepburn said all the stock in the Tycor facility has been destroyed.

“The knock-on effect of that to the local economy is going to be massive,” said Hepburn, who expressed hope of financial assistance from the government for the impacted businesses.

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