Probes launched into 'toxic' blaze at disused Waterford plant

Two separate investigations were today launched into a toxic scare that saw 20 homes evacuated when a massive fire erupted at a disused recycling plant.

Many more families were ordered to keep windows and doors shut as firefighters tackled the blaze at an asbestos-roofed building in Lismore, Co Waterford.

Detectives can’t say if the fire at the Samshire recycling plant, which broke out last night at around 10.30pm, was malicious until the scene is technically examined.

Bernard Leddy, Deputy Mayor of Lismore, sparked fears that nearby residents could have been affected by toxic fumes after the asbestos roof collapsed into the fire.

“Nobody knows what the long-term environmental and health effects of this is going to be,” he said.

The Fianna Fáil councillor said he warned Waterford County Council of the danger posed by the disused plant in 2006.

“I sincerely hope that somebody is going to take responsibility for this now,” he said.

“The smoke that took off last night went across a field and covered one of the more mature streets where there are about 50 houses.

“It’s an absolute disaster in every sense. People were palpably angry.”

Although four units of the Waterford Fire Brigade managed to bring the blaze under control last night it was still smouldering today.

Both gardaí and the Health and Safety Authority (HSA) have begun probes into the cause of the fire, which is thought to have involved several thousand tonnes of recyclable materials.

“We can’t say what caused the fire until the scene is technically examined,” said a Garda spokeswoman.

“We can’t do that until it is safe and the HSA give us the go-ahead for it to be examined.”

No injuries were reported but gardaí urged residents living nearby not to go out during the day unless absolutely necessary while all roads into the industrial estate were closed.