Firefighters in marathon battle with blaze at industrial complex

A MAJOR fire in a Dublin industrial complex continued to blaze last night more than 16 hours after flames were first spotted.

The fire at Bannow Road, Cabra, destroyed a building and poured clouds of choking black smoke over the densely populated residential area nearby.

Fourteen units of Dublin Fire Brigade attended the scene at the height of the blaze which was reported at 1am yesterday morning.

The fire appeared to centre on the recently closed firm Print Services, which was thought to have large batches of paper and plastic wrapping in stock.

Firefighters were still dampening down the smouldering remains when fresh flames burst through the remains of the ruined building's ceiling at 4.30pm.

Two firefighters were treated in hospital for minor injuries after being hit by falling debris.

Workers in an adjacent factory were shocked by the renewed ferocity of the blaze, which at one point burned just six feet from their premises.

"I can't open the door for the smoke. It's just completely black outside," said Andrew O'Farrell, floor manager at Alma Hygiene and Packaging Ltd. "The whole roof next door has gone up again there are balls of flame coming up through it. It's a bit too close for comfort."

Novex and Bailey Distribution Ltd, which between them employ around a dozen workers, occupied the building along with Print Services.

The cause of the fire was not known last night.

A garda spokesman said forensics experts were ready to go to the scene but would be unable to carry out any investigation while the fire still burned.