By Dionne Meehan
LETTERKENNY Fire Service has been called on to ensure fire hydrants are “fit for purpose” after the response to a blaze in the town on Sunday caused concern.
At about 9.35pm on Sunday evening Letterkenny Fire Brigade was alerted to a fire in a two-storey semi-detached house at Meadow Bank.
Cllr Gerry McMonagle attended the scene where he witnessed the fire service struggling to access water due to a clog in the closest fire hydrant.
Potentially delaying the response to the blaze, Cllr McMonagle said they had to go further to another fire hydrant before they got water.
“That said, I don’t know if it would have made a difference in this occasion but certainly it is something I would be looking for the fire service to investigate in the Meadow Bank/ Long Lane area,” he said.
Cllr McMonagle commended the fire service for containing the blaze.
“The house is extensively damaged, as I say the flames were through the roof. The fire service had to use the hydraulic lift to take them over the roof of the house so they could direct water down through it. At least they were able to prevent it moving into adjoining properties,” he said.
With the house sustaining substantial fire damage primarily to the roof and first floor with smoke and water damage to the ground floor, Cllr McMonagle said his heart goes out to family involved.
“I hope that they can get sorted out with housing as soon as possible,” he said.
In a statement sent to the Donegal News, a spokesperson from Donegal County Council said the first fire engine arrived at the scene nine minutes later.
“Firefighters were confronted with a well-established fire involving a covered decking area to the side and back of the house which was in the process of entering the attic space.
“Additional resources from Letterkenny Fire Station also responded to the incident as did Stranorlar and Milford Fire Brigades,” a spokesperson said.
With no one injured in the incident, Gardaí say investigations are on-going.
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