Community sets up account to help families left homeless by Kildare fire
A bank account has been set up to help the families affected by yesterday evening's fire at a housing estate in Newbridge, Co Kildare.
Six houses at Millfield Manor were extensively damaged when a blaze engulfed a row of houses over the course of 20 minutes.
The local community has rallied behind those affected with clothes being donated at Royston Sports Club in the town.
A 39-year-old man is being questioned by gardaí in Newbridge in connection with the fire.
Damien McGrath and his partner, who live in one of the houses, with their son and daughter, said: "We stayed there until about 11 o'clock last night - and the place was packed.
"There were people who left then at 11 o'clock. We don't know what could be done with it, it was burned to the ground."
Kildare firefighter Celina Barrett said it was “impossible” to save the homes as the strong winds were spreading the blaze quickly and officers had to stop the fire engulfing the next block of houses.
She said: "It was defensive fire-fighting from the outside, and today the crews are putting out the flames that are coming up from the fallen debris.
"Units from Newbridge and Naas were here within 10 minutes of the alarm being raised, but at that stage one of the houses was fully involved in fire.
"The flames then spread to two neighbouring properties accelerated by the strong winds.
"After 30 minutes the priority changed to stopping the fire spreading to a neighbouring terrace because it was realised that it was impossible to save the six homes that were burning."
