Huge blaze at Haulbowline naval base

FIREFIGHTERS from Cork city and county joined forces with defence forces personnel to take on a massive blaze at the Haulbowline naval base last night.

The alarm was raised at 9pm when a huge fire broke out in historic buildings undergoing renovation within the base.

Shortly after 10pm, as fire brigade units from the city and county were supported by a Cobh-based firefighting tug on the water, one of the emergency crew said the flames were “out through the roof” of the four-storey building, which houses the Lewis Glucksman marine research facility.

A short time later the roof collapsed in a huge shower of flame and sparks that lit up the night sky for miles around.

All resources were being utilised amid fears that high winds sweeping the harbour over the past couple of days would fan the fire towards nearby fuel stores.

The LÉ Orla was at her moorings but was not thought to be in danger, a naval spokesman said.

However, the crew of the fisheries protection vessel remained on high alert as the blaze continued to rage.

The Haulbowline base spokesman said 40 officers had been evacuated from the naval HQ block adjacent to where the fire broke out.

Flag Officer Commander Frank Lynch co-ordinated the emergency naval operation.

While an investigation will be launched today into the fire, naval sources suggested that it appeared to have started in the quartermaster’s stores.

This section of the naval base was accommodated in old 19th century stone-cut warehousing, much of which had been renovated in recent years.

In September 2003 the UCC Lewis Glucksman marine research facility was officially opened at the base. This represented the relocation of the Coastal & Marine Resources Centre (CMRC), part of UCC’s Environmental Research Institute.