By Claire Corrigan
Four families living in the Lakepoint housing estate in Mullingar have been forced out of their homes by the disastrous fire last Tuesday evening, 25 September, which totally destroyed one of the houses and left three others uninhabitable due to the damage caused, including smoke damage.
Local residents described how one young family who lost their home, the Duncans, were just putting their two children, their little daughter and son, to bed, when the father, hearing crackling noises behind the house, looked out to see the flames. They had only time to leave the house, as the fire engulfed it. The family lost everything they possessed in the fire, which totally destroyed their home.
Thankfully, while a few of the residents were treated for smoke inhalation, there were no other reports of injuries. Had the fire occurred a few hours later, when people had retired for the night, it would most likely have had far more serious consequences.
Twenty local families in the houses at The Avenue were evacuated for several hours as a precaution after the fire spread from the worst-affected houses to a third adjoining residence and there were fears it could affect further dwellings.
Fire brigade units from Mullingar and Castlepollard sought to bring the fire under control for several hours. It appears two units from Mullingar Fire Station were dealing with a house fire in Multyfarnham area when the alarm was raised, and Castlepollard units were called to the scene, while other firemen from Mullingar were first to reach the scene, less than ten minutes after the alarm was raised. By that time, the fire had a firm hold on the first house, and it was two hours before the fire was under control.
Topic has learned in recent days that it now appears likely not only the house which was totally burned out, but two of the other worst affected houses may have to be taken down because of the serious damage caused by the fire. Last week’s fire at the Lakepoint scheme was the worst to occur in the area since the scheme was built.
The outbreak of fire began some time after 8pm on Tuesday evening, with the Gardai and fire services called to the scene shortly after 8.30pm. Local residents were seriously concerned at the speed with which the fire spread after the first house caught fire. It appears the fire began outside the building, with a fence between two of the homes catching fire. The blaze spread from there to an oil tank, and then set the first house alight.
The Gardai in Mullingar carried out a forensic examination at the fire scene afterwards, and Topic learned this week that they had concluded there was nothing sinister about the origins of the blaze, and were not treating the outbreak as suspicious.
EYEWITNESS
Speaking to Topic on Tuesday night, after the fire had been brought under control, one of the neighbours said he became aware of the blaze after 8pm and was told the fire had started from hot ashes. “I heard that the fence caught fire. It went to the oil tank and then up the side of the house; the roof was in flames. About three houses are affected. When the fire was blazing, the Gardai were making sure that everyone was sufficiently far back and that no one went near the fire. They’ve kept people back for safety’s sake. We were asked to come out of our homes and to stay back.”
A GoFundMe page was set up by Maria Duncan’s sister, Laura, the next day and has currently raised €5,331. On the page Laura said: “Unfortunately, John, Maria and their two small kids (six-month-old Liam and two-year-old daughter Maebh) were living in one of the houses that was gutted by a fire in Mullingar last night, 25th September.
We are so thankful that everyone got out safely but they lost everything they have worked so hard to build up. We have set this page up as friends and family have been asking how they can help, we hope this can help them get back on their feet.”
