Store blaze sees 20 homes evacuated

Up to 20 homes were evacuated in Co Clare today after a massive fire ripped through a hardware store.

The blaze broke out at around 5.30am at the premises on Station Road, Ennis, and took around three hours to bring under control.

The building was empty at the time and no injuries were reported.

Fire brigade units from Ennis, as well as nearby Shannon, Ennistymon and Scariff attended the scene, including three fire tenders, two water tankers, one emergency tender and one high reach fire-fighting appliance.

Local businesses closed and residents living next to the scene were evacuated as a precautionary measure, but were allowed to return to their homes later in the morning.

"The primary objective was to prevent fire from spreading to adjacent residential and commercial properties in the area," a spokesman for Co Clare Fire Service said.

"This goal was achieved and fire personnel brought the blaze under control at around 8.30am."

A large section of the building was destroyed and fire fighters remained at the scene to dampen down smouldering pockets.

The cause of the blaze is unknown and both gardaí and the county's Fire Service have launched separate investigations.