One child and two adults hospitalised after house fire in Ballyphehane

Emergency services were called to the scene this morning 

Three people were hospitalised and a fourth person in need of medical attention.

Gardaí are investigating an incident of criminal damage by fire at a home in a suburb of Cork city, which left three people hospitalised and a fourth person needing medical attention.

Gardaí and emergency services responded to the fire, which occurred at approximately 6am this morning at a domestic residence on Clarke’s Rd, Ballyphehane.

A spokesperson for Cork City Fire Brigade said three units of the service had attended the fire, and a nine-year-old child, a man in his late 20s, and a woman in her 40s were brought to Cork University Hospital (CUH) for treatment for smoke inhalation.

A fourth person, a man in his 50s, was treated for smoke inhalation at the scene.

The fire brigade spokesperson said the blaze was well established when fire service personnel arrived at the scene.

“The front door of the house was on fire and there was a fire on the top of the stairs as well,” they said.

“Our officers were deployed into the house with hose and, wearing breathing apparatus, they extinguished the fire.” The house is currently preserved by gardaí for a technical examination, gardaí said, with investigations ongoing.

A spokesperson for An Garda Síochána told the Irish Examiner: “Gardaí and emergency services attended the scene of an incident of criminal damage by fire that occurred at a domestic residence in the Ballyphehane area of Cork city this Monday morning, February 23 at approximately 6.10 am.

“A male in his 20s, a female in her 40s and a female child were conveyed to Cork University Hospital for treatment of injuries. A male in his 50s was treated for his injuries at scene.

“The scene is currently being preserved for technical examination,” they said.

“Investigations are ongoing.”

Later they appealed for anyone who may have seen what happened. 

"Gardaí are appealing for any witnesses to this incident to contact them. Anyone who was in the Clarkes Road area between 6am and 7am this morning, Monday 23rd February 2026, and who may have any information is asked to contact investigating Gardaí. Anyone with camera footage (including dash-cam) is asked to make that footage available."

Gardaí can be contacted at Bridewell (Cork) Garda Station on 021 4943330, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda station.