Blaze at former Ennis business premises

Fire crews spent several hours at the scene of a fire at a former furniture store in Ennis last night.

The blaze, at Lower Market St close to the junction with Carmody St, was reported at around 7.45pm.

A pall of thick black smoke could be seen from many parts of the town.

Three units of the fire brigade from Ennis, including a hydraulic aerial platform, responded to the scene and quickly began tackling the fire.

The street was closed for a time to allow fire fighters deal with the blaze but also because visibility for motorists was severely hampered by the thick smoke.

No one was injured in the incident and fire crews prevented the fire spreading to a nearby house and other buildings.

Gardaí are investigating the cause of the fire.