Seven families have lost their homes after a "terrifying" fire broke out at a high-rise apartments complex in Blanchardstown yesterday.
Emergency services were called out to the fire at Falcon's View apartments in Blanchardstown, near the Crowne Plaza Hotel, at around 4.30pm on Sunday. The apartment and hotel were both swiftly evacuated and thankfully no injuries were reported.
Dublin Fire Brigade attended the scene with seven units. Two turntable ladders were deployed, with the blaze brought under control quickly. However, some families had to spend the night at hotels because they could not return to their homes last night as their homes were so badly damaged.
Read more: Firefighters battle blaze at Dublin apartment complex
Fine Gael Cllr Punam Rane visited the complex this morning. She told Dublin Live: "Seven families have been affected but not all the apartments were damaged badly so the Fire Brigade are investigating.
"Last night they were accommodated in the Crown Plaza Hotel, the families were given accommodation there and then if needed more will be done.
"The Fire Brigade are still investigating the cause of the fire, a couple of things they think could have been electrical fault or electricity live wire or something, but they are not sure exactly what caused it and that will be part of the investigation."
Cllr Rane praised Dublin Fire Brigade for their "very quick" response as they arrived on scene within minutes. She also thanked Fingal County Council for supporting families affected by the blaze.
She added: "I was on to Fingal County Council and the chief executive AnneMarie Farrelly and her team addressed everything so quickly. The families are being accommodated and supported in every way."
Cllr Rane said that Fingal Council Council is also facilitating residents who wish to pick up their belongings from the apartments complex. She described the blaze as being a "mental shock" to residents.
"It was terrifying, it is a mental shock for the families. There were no casualties at all, and I think the building has been maintained on a regular basis."
Cllr Rane added that the building's smoke alarms were in "good working order" and that the complex's safety mechanisms allowed residents to get to safety. "The smoke alarms kicked off and all the residents became aware because of the smoke alarms.
"The alarms didn't stop ringing and they [the residents] came to know it wasn't a fire drill and it was an actual fire. They just went out of the building.
"All the fire alarms were in good working condition and the building itself is in a very good state, all the residents were saying it was being constantly maintained. I'm so thankful that no-one was injured."
Resident Kiowa Daly told how he heard some cracking sounds and saw some ash falling from the apartment above his, shortly before the alarm went off. "From our viewpoint it all happened very quick. It was scary," he told RTE's Morning Ireland.
Mr Daly explained that his girlfriend and mother were allowed pick up some belongings from the apartment because they can't go back due to the "extensive" damage.
He said that the kitchen was destroyed and also covered with soot. "I don't expect that we will be able to return for a number of weeks."
Dublin Fire Brigade's third officer Keith Markey said some other apartments were also severely damaged by smoke. He added that the damage was "mainly contained" to the building's exterior and the interior safety systems seemed to work well.
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