Probe to seek cause of blaze at Dublin Port

AN investigation will be launched today into a major fire at Dublin Port.

Ten units of Dublin Fire Brigade fought the blaze which saw plumes of black smoke envelop the inner city yesterday.

Roads surrounding the docks were closed but nearby residents in Ringsend, Clontarf and Sandymount were not evacuated. Locals reported hearing an explosion shortly before the fire broke out.

The mid-afternoon emergency occurred at the Irish Shell tar and bitumen facility on Alexandra Road.

Unconfirmed reports suggested several barrels of bitumen caught fire at the jetty during an unloading operation of the oil-based product.

An inquiry by the port authority will get underway today. With fire brigade units at the scene until late last night, gardaí said it was not possible at that stage to fully establish the cause of the fire.

Gardaí said traffic management was its primary function. Officers at the scene closed off roads leading to the port, and there were no reports of injuries last night.

Environmental concerns will also be addressed today. “We were very lucky this time it wasn’t more combustible material,” said Ringsend resident Damien Cassidy, who called on the port authority to review its safety procedures.

The fire brigade said its units quickly contained the fire which continued late into the evening. By the time it was brought under control, extensive damage was caused to the jetty.