Gardaí hailed for barn blaze rescue

GARDAÍ believe a 25-year-old woman who suffered serious burns to her face in a blaze at a barn may have lit the fire to keep warm.

Two Wexford-based gardaí have been hailed heroes following their rescue of the woman from the blaze just after 1am yesterday. She was last night named as Tara Price from Llanelli, Wales.

Garda Shane Lucey, from Kanturk in Cork and Garda Martin O’Neill from Westmeath were on patrol duty when they were diverted to the scene of the blaze.

The station had received a call that a shed at Rocklands, behind the Arena Veterinary Centre in Wexford town, was on fire. As the two officers arrived at the scene, they noticed someone crouched down in the burning building.

The officers rescued the woman from the blaze, saving her life. She suffered 40% facial burns and was in a serious but stable condition last night at Wexford General Hospital.

The Welsh woman had been in the area since January 6 and was in the company of another woman, who was not in the building at the time of the fire.

Investigating officer Sgt Mick Walsh, said the woman may have lit the fire.

“We believe she may have lit the fire to keep herself warm while she slept.”

The scene of the accident was sealed off yesterday, pending a full technical examination of the scene.