Gardaí launch investigation after fire guts home of elderly man

Gardaí have launched an investigation after fire gutted a house on the northside of Cork City.

The house on Blarney Street was declared a crime scene and was sealed off last night pending a forensic examination.

However, it is expected to be this morning before the building is declared safe enough for Garda forensic experts to be able to conduct their examination.

Gardaí began house-to-house inquiries in the area last night to try to establish if there was any suspicious activity in the area, or in or around the house, in the minutes leading up to the fire.

Supt Con Cadogan appealed to anyone who saw anything or anyone suspicious in the area between 3pm and 4.30pm to contact Gurranabraher Garda Station.

The alarm was raised around 4pm yesterday when smoke was spotted pouring from the house.

It was unoccupied at the time but the elderly man who lives there tried to gain access to his home.

He suffered some smoke inhalation before the intense smoke and flames forced him to withdraw.

He was treated at the scene by HSE paramedics and did not need hospital treatment.

Five units of Cork City Fire Brigade, including its hydraulic ladder unit, rushed to the scene.

They also dispatched a water tanker unit because of water supply problems on the northside yesterday but senior fire officers said the water supply issue did not affect their ability to fight the fire.

But the blaze had taken hold quickly and spread rapidly, causing extensive damage to the house, and its roof, before firefighters managed to bring the fire under control.

The garda forensic examination is expected to get underway this morning.