Oil depot blaze disrupts road and rail journeys

The scene of the fire nearMullinavat, Co Kilkenny, yesterday which caused road and rail disruption. Photo: DYLAN VAUGHAN

Eimear Ni Bhraonain

August 04 2012 04:47 AM

A FIRE at a rural oil depot disrupted the bank holiday commute for thousands of people travelling from Dublin to Waterford.

Emergency services rushed to the EuroFuels depot near Mullinavat in south Kilkenny yesterday morning after a lorry went on fire.

One man had to be treated for smoke inhalation but nobody was seriously injured in the blaze.

The blaze broke out after 10am while workers were inside the building. A driver noticed the flames and immediately raised the alarm. The area was evacuated as the fire services took over.

There were fears of an explosion because of the amount of fuel stored at the depot. However, the fire brigade, gardai and ambulances rushed to the scene immediately.

A large tanker of petrol, which was parked in the yard, was removed before the fire spread further.

Iarnrod Eireann stopped the Dublin to Waterford train in Kilkenny and passengers were transferred by bus for the remainder of the journey.

This disruption continued throughout the day with rail services running from Dublin to Kilkenny only and bus transfers for the journey to Waterford. This continues today.

Gardai also warned motorists not to exit the M9 motorway at Mullinavat because of the fire. Plumes of smoke affected visibility on the motorway.

Owner of the EuroFuels plant, Michael Murphy, told the Irish Independent that the company immediately warned the fire services of the amount of fuel in the depot so the necessary precautions were taken.

"Our primary concern was that nobody was seriously injured and there was no loss of life, everyone is well," Mr Murphy said.