Firefighters bring Dublin fire under control

The fire which broke out in an office and apartments complex in central Dublin has been brought under control.

The fire broke out at around 7pm and was well under control by 10.30.

Twelve units of the Dublin Fire Brigade were called to the building near St Stephen’s Green, just yards away from the Dail.

All of the offices and penthouse suites at Huguenot House were cleared before the blaze took hold of the building, which houses a number of Irish newspaper offices.

Dubliner Gary Murphy, 37, said buildings, including the exclusive Shelbourne Hotel, were evacuated around Huguenot House as flames spilled from the upper floor.

He said: ‘‘It looked like the fire had really taken hold but thankfully it is such a rainy night that the flames seemed to be extinguished quite quickly.

‘‘There didn’t seem to be a great number of people evacuating the building, probably because it is mainly offices which would have been empty.

‘‘But they were certainly leading people out of buildings around the fire, it has been a bit windy so maybe the fire brigade were worried it could spread.’’

He added: ‘‘People were leaving the Shelbourne as well so there must have been some real fears for their safety.’’

It is understood the fire broke out in a penthouse apartment.

One man who was in the building at the time said: ‘‘There were only a few people inside as most of the staff had gone home, but the alarm went off, as it often does, and we sat around thinking we didn’t want to go outside and get wet.’’

But the man, who did not want to be named, said: ‘‘Then a cleaner came in and told us all to get out because it was the real thing.

‘‘Everyone got out fairly easily and there was no panic but there was an awful lot of smoke when we got outside which made us realise just how big the fire was.’’

At the height of the blaze all of Merrion Row was sealed off and the many pubs, restaurants and shops were evacuated and closed.