Latest: Major Cork car park fire brought under control; At least 60 vehicles damaged
Firefighters have brought the large blaze at a multi-storey car park in Cork under control.
They have prevented the blaze at the Douglas Village Shopping Centre car park from spreading to the adjoining shopping centre building.
However, some of the centre’s shops have suffered water damage.
The first and second steel-decked floors of the car park have been severely damaged.
At least 60 cars parked on those floors have been damaged, many beyond repair.
Representatives of the building’s owners and their engineers are on-site to conduct an initial inspection. But it could be tomorrow lunchtime before it’s safe to enter the building and the full extent of the damage becomes apparent.
One firefighter suffered a minor injury during the operation. He has been taken to hospital for an assessment of a suspected ankle sprain injury.
Several units of the fire service will remain on scene overnight.
At the height of the operation, up to 50 firefighters from the city and county were deployed to tackle the blaze, assisted by up to 30 gardaí, with the National Ambulance Service on standby, and the Civil Defence, whose members coordinated drone flights over the scene to assist in the firefighting.
With regret we wish to inform you that Douglas Village Shopping Centre will not be able to open on Sunday 1st September, we apologise for any inconvenience caused and will provide more updates shortly.
— Douglas Village (@douglasvillage) August 31, 2019
You can read an eyewitness account of the fire below:
Extra personnel have been drafted in to assist tonight.
— Cork City Fire Brigade (@CorkCityFire) August 31, 2019
While we deal with a large fire in Douglas, we have also dealt with incidents in Blarney Street and Ballincollig.
It’s important that operational cover is maintained for the city 🚒🔥#busy pic.twitter.com/4MFm1x0rn0
At least 60 cars have been damaged, many beyond repair, in a major blaze at a multi-story car park on the southside of Cork city tonight.
But there are no reports of any injuries as yet as firefighters continue tackling the blaze at the car park next to Douglas Village Shopping Centre.
UPDATE: Video from the scene - thanks to a great contact #Douglas #Cork pic.twitter.com/QQJHlqVLbu
— Eoin English (@EoinBearla) August 31, 2019
A total of 12 units of the fire brigade are on scene - eight from the city and four from the county.
Several units are expected to remain on scene overnight.
Road closures around the building are also expected to remain in place overnight.
It could be tomorrow before the car park is deemed safe to enter and a full assessment of the extent of the damage can be undertaken.
However, early indications suggest the building has suffered extensive structural damage.
Many shoppers whose cars were parked in the car park at the time the blaze broke out will have to wait some time before the all-clear is given to access the building.
You can read more shoppers' experiences of the fire here:
Fire fighters from across Cork city and county are still fighting the massive multi-storey car park blaze in Douglas this evening.
Eight units from the city supported by four units from the county are now involved in the complex operation at the multi-storey car park attached to Douglas Village Shopping Centre.
UPDATE: firefighting operations continuing at Douglas Shopping centre 🔥
— Cork City Fire Brigade (@CorkCityFire) August 31, 2019
12 fire appliances at scene including:
- 8 Cork City Fire Brigade units
- 4 @corkcountyfire units
Crews continue to work hard 🚒 pic.twitter.com/PIf8NDTNw0
A blaze in one car parked on the first floor of the car park spread to several other vehicles.
It is not clear if the fire has spread to the upper floors of the car park.
Gardaí in Cork have warned of traffic congestion in Douglas village and on the N40 as a major fire fighting operation continues in the Tesco shopping centre multi-storey car park.
Douglas shopping centre on fire #iestaff via @cathshan pic.twitter.com/vfFyX79plo
— Irish Examiner (@irishexaminer) August 31, 2019
There are reports of heavy traffic on the N40 westbound with long delays on approach from junction 9 Bloomfield and junction 10 Mahon.
Gardaí have advised motorists trying to get to Douglas Village in Cork this evening to use alternative routes and to expect delays for some time this evening.
Road closures in and around Douglas village are still in effect.
Firefighters are tackling a major blaze in the multi-storey car park of a suburban shopping centre in Cork.
Roads are closed in the Douglas area as up to eight units of the Cork City Fire Brigade respond to the incident at the Tesco multi-storey car park.
UPDATE: Large Fire in Douglas Shopping Centre, several units from around the city in attendance.
— Cork City Fire Brigade (@CorkCityFire) August 31, 2019
Crews working very hard in heavy smoke and fire conditions to contain fire 🔥 🚒
⚠️ Please avoid the area to allow crews to access the building ⚠️#corkfire pic.twitter.com/F9P9Bk3zRc
The alarm was raised around 7pm when a car caught fire on the first floor of the car park.
It is understood that several other vehicles also caught fire.
Crazy fire billowing out of Douglas.... I hope nobody has been harmed. 🙏🏻 #Cork pic.twitter.com/sEPUzMloi0
— Emma Kenneally (@emmakenneally) August 31, 2019
Gardaí have closed the link road from Douglas East to Douglas West to all traffic, as well as Church St.
The view from Ballinlough this evening of that fire in Douglas. Hopefully no one has been injured. pic.twitter.com/Nb56fd7nvN
— Michael McGrath (@mmcgrathtd) August 31, 2019
They have advised that smoke from this incident may also affect visibility on the N40 South Ring Road, both directions, which runs adjacent to the car park site.
Gardaí have also asked motorists using the South Ring Road to not stop to view or photograph the major blaze being fought in Douglas.
Big fire in Tesco douglas @CorksRedFM pic.twitter.com/Xu2dGbp7uR
— Mick O callaghan (@MocMick) August 31, 2019
They have warned of worsening traffic congestion for all vehicles approaching Douglas Village from the Douglas road, the South Douglas road, and Rochestown road directions as the fire fighting operation continues.
Smoke from fire at Tesco Douglas multi-story visible citywide.
— Joe Noonan (@NoonanJoe) August 31, 2019
H/t @eoinbearla #DouglasFire #ACitySmoking pic.twitter.com/VZC3t2gyDE
