Two men found dead after fire at Waterford apartment

Two men died today in a fire in an apartment in Waterford city.

Firefighters made the grim discovery in a ground floor flat in Canada Square.

The two people, thought to be their early 30s, are believed to have died from smoke inhalation in the overnight blaze.

Gardaí are probing the cause of the small fire, which had burnt itself out before crews arrived at the scene.

Niall Curtin, chief fire officer with Waterford Fire Brigade, said the alarm was raised at 11.15am by a passer-by who saw something a window.

“We entered the apartment and there was some smoke,” he said.

“It was then we discovered the fatalities in the sitting room.”

The three-storey property includes the ground floor flat and a maisonette above.

The fire did not spread to adjoining properties.

“The gardaí will be investigating the cause of fire, but we will assist them in whatever way we can,” added Mr Curtin.

“It is possible that the fire started at an earlier stage, maybe late last night or early this morning, and affected the occupants at that time.”