Car park blaze victims fight for lives
THREE people who are fighting for their lives after a blaze in an underground car park may have been forced to sleep rough there because they were homeless.
But mystery still surrounds the cause of the fire in a Dublin city centre car park early yesterday morning which left two men and a woman with serious burns.
A mother and child also needed treatment for smoke inhalation in the apartment block above.
Six units of the fire brigade and five ambulances rushed to the Smithfield Gate apartment complex after the alarm was raised shortly before 5.30am.
Gardai evacuated 25 residents and three people -- two men and a woman, all in their early 30s -- were taken to St James's Hospital where they were treated for severe burns.
Yesterday their condition was described as critical and they remained in a very serious condition. Gardai were waiting for the all-clear from medical staff before they interview the injured and determine how the fire broke out.
Smoke
Meanwhile the young child and mother were taken to Temple Street Children's Hospital and the Mater for treatment for smoke inhalation. Both were later released.
It is understood the three people with serious injuries may have been homeless and that the fire may have started in a skip.
Members of the garda technical bureau spent much of yesterday trying to determine the cause of the fire.
One apartment resident said: "The whole place was full of smoke. I came out before they started knocking on doors.
"I heard the alarm go off but it goes off all the time. There were three fire trucks, I think, but I don't know the people who were taken to hospital."
Meanwhile, management at NUI Galway will meet today to assess the extent of the damage to the Marine Research Centre at Carna, in Connemara, which was badly damaged by fire at the weekend.
Gardai will also continue their forensic investigations today into the cause of the fire, but the indications are that it started accidentally.
Two units of Clifden Fire Brigade and one unit from Galway city fought the fire, which was first noticed shortly after 6am on Saturday.
The flames spread quickly through the centre causing extensive damage.
- Paul Melia
