Two houses adjoining the garage in Croom were extensively damaged

LIMERICK Fire and Rescue Service responded to a fire at a garage at 4 Main Street, Croom on Monday night.

Gardai, emergency services and 11 fire appliances responded to a call on Monday night around 11.12pm. Firefighters remained at the scene until around 3am on Tuesday as they worked to bring the incident under control.

Several recovery trucks, cars and the garage were on fire.

The fire posed a significant threat to surrounding buildings and buildings were evacuated as a result. Two houses adjoining the garage were extensively damaged.

A hydraulic platform was deployed during the incident, while a drone was also used to assist crews .

No injuries were reported.

The scene was preserved by gardai pending a technical examination.

The fire appliances were from Rathkeale Fire Station, Kilmallock, Newcastle West, Limerick city and Cappamore.

Minister of State Niall Collins and Deputy Richard O’Donoghue both pledged their support to the O’Connor family and said they will assist in any way they can.

The two TDs praised the local community and businesses for their response late on Monday night and through the early hours of Tuesday morning. Mr Collins and Mr O’Donoghue said the Croom Civic Centre was opened and teas and coffees served, Padraig Broderick, of Spar, brought down food and water to the scene for firefighters and family and take away restaurants also brought down food.

Mr Collins said it is devastating for the O’Connor family.

“It is such an awful event, impacting both their home and their business which has been located on main street for decades. They are a very popular and highly respected family. My office was in touch with the fire services last night requesting their assistance. I hope in time they will rebuild the business as they are part of the fabric of society in Croom,” said Mr Collins.

Mr O’Donoghue said he was in Croom with the proprietor Damien O’Connor, who took over from his late father Tony, early this Tuesday morning.

“The house is gone, the garage is gone, a lot of vehicles, everything is gone. That house and garage is there as long as I'm alive. The O’Connor name is as long in Croom as the Daffy name - they are the two main garages in Croom.

“It is very sad to see it burned to the ground but the one thing I will take out of this is there were no fatalities as if it broke out half an hour later it could have been a lot worse. Buildings can be rebuilt but lives can’t be replaced,” said Mr O’Donoghue.

“They are a great family and a hard-working family. Damien is a savage hard worker. You could pass there day or night and he is always working. It is a huge, huge loss but please God they will rebuild in the future,” said Mr O’Donoghue.

The TD said Damien is very appreciative of the local support.

“He said people were brilliant. He couldn’t believe the support of the community and businesses. The community came out for the O’Connor family and that’s what you call a community,” said Mr O’Donoghue.