'Major incident' averted as Cork city centre shop evacuated

The quick thinking of staff during a fire in a Cork city centre department store on Saturday afternoon helped to avert what could have been a major incident, a spokesperson for Cork Fire Brigade has said.

It is understood that an air handling unit on the roof of Dunnes Stores on Patrick Street overheated and went on fire around midday on Saturday.

The alarm was raised by staff in the shop and the five-storey premises, which was full of pre-Christmas shoppers at the time, was quickly evacuated.

Responding within three minutes of receiving the call, four units of Cork Fire Brigade arrived on the scene, with crews from Anglesea Street and Ballyvollane manning three water tenders and a hydraulic platform.

Tadgh O’Mahony, third officer with Cork Fire Brigade, said the staff at Dunne’s Stores had been “superb” in evacuating the building quickly and safely.

“Only for the actions of the management and staff, it could have been a major incident, but they had a clear plan in place, and they did great work in evacuating the place quickly and calmly, and they really were superb,” Mr O’Mahony said.

“The gardaí were excellent in co-ordinating everything at the scene, and the member of the public co-operated fully.” It is understood that the site was made safe by the fire service and the shop re-opened within two hours.

A spokesperson from Dunnes Stores was not available for comment.