Two people have been taken to hospital following an extensive fire at a commercial premises in Killaloe, Co Clare.
The alarm was raised at around 1.00pm when emergency services received multiple reports of an explosion and fire at Walsh’s ‘Top of the Town’ bar on Main Street in Killaloe.
Units of Clare County Fire and Rescue Service from Killaloe and Scarriff stations responded to the incident along with Gardaí and National Ambulance Service paramedics. The bar is located just metres from the local Garda station and about 100 metres from the fire station.
On arrival at the scene emergency services found that the building was well alight and quickly began tackling the blaze.
It’s understood that there was at least one person, understood to be a worker, on the premises at the time but managed to make their way to safety. A second person was also injured but it hasn’t confirmed whether they were in the building at the time.
Two people were treated at the scene by paramedics and were later removed to University Hospital Limerick by ambulance for further assessment. Their injuries are not believed to be serious.
ESB engineers and Gas technicians were also requested to attend the scene but could only wait nearby for fire crews to deal with the blaze before they could carry out an inspection of the property.
The area around the scene has been cordoned off and traffic is being diverted away from Main Street, The Green and Thomas Street. Gardaí are asking motorists to avoid the area and say the scene will remain sealed off for a time yet.
Later, additional fire service resources from Nenagh, Co Tipperary, including a hydraulic platform, were mobilised to assist at the scene.
It’s not yet clear what may have caused the explosion but it’s expected that a technical examination of the scene will be undertaken by Gardaí once the area has been declared safe.
A Garda spokesperson confirmed: “Gardaí and emergency services responded to a report of an explosion and subsequent fire at a licensed premises in Killaloe Co. Clare shortly before 1pm this afternoon, Monday 25th of September 2023.
Two people were taken to Limerick University Hospital as a precaution. Units from Nenagh, Scarriff and Killaloe Fire Services attended the scene and brought the fire under control.
Investigations are ongoing.
Update: The two people taken to hospital following the fire were expected to be discharged this evening after treatment.
Locals were quick to rally around the Walsh family and have organised sheets of timber to help secure the premises which was extensively damaged.
Local councillor Tony O’Brian said: “People are both shocked and saddened by the fire. Not only was it a pub and a place for us locals to socialise it was also a family home. As a community our efforts will be to help the Walsh family in whatever way we can.
Whilst it is a very tragic and difficult time the over-riding emotion is very much one of relief that there was no loss of life or serious injury as a result of the fire.”
