Furniture outlet destroyed in blaze

MORE than 40 firefighters fought a blaze which completely destroyed a huge furniture and flooring retail outlet at a business park in Limerick early yesterday.

Officers from Clare backed up fire service units from the city in tackling the outbreak at the Discount Furniture and Flooring store on the Ballysimon Road. The site was still being dampened down in the afternoon. In all, 13 units of the fire service fought the blaze for more than five hours. As well as the city fire units, water tenders from Cappamore, Rathkeale, Shannon and Killaloe helped bring the blaze under control.

Assistant chief fire officer in Limerick county Ken Crowley and station officer Jim Kearns oversaw the huge operation.

The blaze was prevented from spreading to an adjoining retail outlet.

The alarm was raised shortly before 2am.

Businessman Tony Cowell opened Discount Furniture and Flooring at the East Point Retail Park last February. He is determined to fulfil orders and find work for the three staff.