American based TV host thanks Limerick firefighters for saving family home

NEW York-based anchor at Bloomberg TV Vonnie Quinn has thanked Limerick Fire and Rescue Service for saving her childhood home after an alleged arson attack.

Firefighters from the city responded within two minutes to a report of a blaze at a property on the Ennis Road in the city last week. Two adjoining properties at the prime city location were extensively damaged.

Ms Quinn tweeted: “Immeasurable gratitude to Limerick, Shannon, and Cappamore firefighters for saving our childhood home after an hours-long effort.”

Born and raised in Limerick, Ms Quinn moved Stateside in 2004, joining Bloomberg in 2006 after the completion of her studies at Columbia University, where she earned an MA and MS in journalism.

Now internationally recognised, she has been awarded the ABC Frank Reynolds Fellowship, a French government medal, a Swiss Government Scholarship, and a National University of Ireland Travelling Studentship.

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Due to the extent of the blaze at her former home - firefighters from Cappamore and Shannon were called in to assist their city colleagues. Limerick Fire and Rescue Service said they “fought a well developed fire in a roof in two semi-detached properties”.

“Given the limited access around the properties to use an aerial appliance, crews fought the fire from several fire service ladders,” they tweeted. Firefighters spent over four hours at the scene on Tuesday night, April 4.

Gardai were alerted and following enquiries by investigating gardaí, a male, aged in his 40s, was arrested in the early hours of Wednesday morning and was detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984 at a Limerick garda station.

“The fire had spread to an adjoining property on the Ennis Road. Fire Services attended the scene and the fire was brought under control. Significant damage was caused to both properties. There were no persons present at the time of the incident and no injuries were reported,” said a garda spokesperson.

The man was later charged by gardai in connection with the fire. He appeared before Ennis District Court on Thursday morning.