Firefighters tackle blaze at Sunbeam Industrial Estate 

Firefighters from Ballyvolane and Cork city are tackling a blaze at the Sunbeam Industrial Estate on the Redforge Road this evening.

The alarm was raised at around 5.30pm this evening after smoke was spotted billowing from the site.

Emergency services responded with four fire crews attending the blaze.

The firefighters used a 32m Hydraulic Platform to deliver over 2, 000 litres of water a minute in a bid to tackle the “substantial” blaze.

It is not the first fire to break out at the site this year.

In January, a blaze at the Sunbeam site led to calls for the redevelopment of the area to be made a priority.

Speaking at the time, local councillor Thomas Gould (SF) said it is not the first time a fire has broken out in the industrial estate and called for the area to be redeveloped.

He claimed that there had been talk of redeveloping the site for years but that no action had been taken.

“There are plans for housing on parts of the site but it’s been like this for years,” explained Cllr Gould.

“It’s a major site right in the heart of Blackpool and it needs to be redeveloped to include businesses, shops and housing, so it can have a positive impact on the area.” Fellow councillor, Kenneth O’Flynn (FF), speaking at the time as well, echoed the calls for the redevelopment of the site.

He called on city council to implement the entire development plans for both North Blackpool and the village of Blackpool.

“We have some good news stories coming for Blackpool with various housing redevelopment in the area,” said Cllr O’Flynn.

“Too long it's been ignored by officials of Cork city council.”