Asbestos concerns at site of extensive fire in Waterford city business park

Sarah Slater

Business owners and householders are being advised not to handle or go near any debris from a substantial fire which gutted a large part of a Waterford city industrial estate due to asbestos concerns.

The fire broke out at the old Jute Factory in Tycor Business Park in Waterford City at around 6.40pm on Saturday. The factory was built in the 1930s.

Significant flames could be seen - some believed to be up to 12 metres in height - during the closing stages of the Waterford versus Cork match in the Munster Senior Hurling Championship at nearby Walsh Park.

While no casualties were reported, the building was extensively damaged and fire service operations will continue at the site throughout the coming days. Fire crews remained at the scene throughout Saturday night and Sunday.

Investigations are underway by fire services as to what caused the fire.

Waterford City and County Council has advised that the streets within the immediate vicinity of the Jute Factory site, Morrisons’ Avenue, Griffith Place and Tycor Avenue will remain closed until further notice.

Members of the public are advised to avoid the area as operations continue. Public health advice remains that those not resident in the immediate vicinity should avoid the area.

The council is advising that while the "presence of an asbestos-bound cement roof on the building has not been confirmed," following a risk assessment, the local authority is “proceeding on the basis that asbestos is present”.

Analysis of the site and debris with an environmental consultant and construction specialist is currently underway.

As additional precautionary measures, members of the public within the immediate vicinity of the site are advised to keep windows and doors closed, not to touch, move or remove any debris, ash or soot deposits, not to dry sweep dust or debris, power washers or similar equipment which may disturb debris are not to be used.

Other advice includes not to mow grass until further notice and if necessary, dampen down surface dust particles with a light dousing of water.

It is important not to disturb or aerosolise particles, and to rewash any clothing that may have been left outdoors during the fire.

Those in the vicinity should also wash their hands thoroughly after any outdoor activities and avoid exercising in the vicinity.

Members of the public can contact Waterford City and County Council Customer Services Desk on 0818 10 20 20.

Up to 50 business owners, community groups are badly affected by the weekend blaze with 200 jobs under threat, while up to 75 per cent of the business park has been gutted.

As the clean-up operation questions, many of the business owners affected have spoken of their horror at what occurred.

Those who run the Waterford Centre for Music which was based in one of the units in the business park said that “unfortunately, the devastating fire has completely destroyed our beautiful school”.

In a statement the organisers explained that they are all “absolutely shattered at the moment and are slowly coming to terms with it all”.

They continued: “We would like to thank all of the firefighters who did everything they could to control the blaze, and to all of the emergency services who were at the scene.

“To all of the other business owners, who are such a great community and friends to us, our thoughts are with you all and we will rally together to try to recover from this horror.

“Waterford Centre of Music is made of more than just bricks and mortar. It's every person that has ever walked through our doors, every child who stood on a stage and sang, every musician, young and old....you are the school, and we will come back from this, together.”

Paul Hearne who runs Celtic Warrior Martial Arts added: “To say that I'm absolutely devastated doesn't even cover how I feel at the moment. The unit in the Tycor business centre that has been the home of our club for the past few years, was destroyed in (the) fire. Years of hard work gone in a blink of an eye.

"I would like to take the opportunity to thank Waterford city fire services for their unwavering strength and bravery in battling the fire and for trying to save as many businesses as they could."

He acknowledged other businesses which have been “struck by the same tragedy, we will grieve, cry then rebuild and come back even stronger”.

Government Chief Whip and Minister for State Mary Butler who lives in Waterford said that the blaze is “absolutely devastating” for so many.