Cause of major Waterford fire remains under investigation
The company that owns the Tycor Business Centre in Waterford city has said the cause of the major fire that broke out at the premises remains under investigation.
Up to 40 premises as well as community groups and social enterprises lost their units in last weekend's fire, impacting hundreds of people.
It comes as the Government and local council are now in the process of drawing up a support scheme for those impacted.
Causeway Group, a Waterford-based property management company, owns the majority of the business centre that is located on the site of the former Jute Factory.
The group's CEO, Sean Johnston has said investigations into how the fire started are continuing, and CCTV has been passed on to the gardaí.
Government and local council are in the process of drawing up a support scheme for those impacted
"All we know is we have full security in the centre, it's full CCTV. And the CCTV footage was still recording up until the electricity was cut off at 7.30pm on Saturday night," Mr Johnston said.
"So, anyone that was in that premises or anyone who was in that business park in the previous week are all on CCTV footage, of which the guards have, and they are going through it at the moment," he added.
"Right now, we know the area where it started, and we know which way the fire went. It started in one area. Went up the middle, it came back on itself. We thought certain units were saved, which we lost afterwards.
"The fire service did a fantastic job under very, very difficult circumstances. The Chief Fire Officer, Niall Curtin has a fantastic staff down there. The commander on site that night was excellent," he said.
"Nobody got hurt, no legs, ankles broken. It was tough, but they did it. They did a great job.
"I would like to thank the fire services immensely for what they did," Mr Johnston added.
Meanwhile, a memo has gone to Cabinet for a cross-departmental support scheme to be put in place for those impacted by the major fire in the Tycor Business Centre in Waterford city.
It comes as business owners, service providers and community groups expressed their concerns at a meeting with ministers and council officials at the Tower Hotel in Waterford city yesterday.
Read more: 'Devastating' - businesses count cost of Waterford fire
Speaking afterwards, Minister for Enterprise Peter Burke said the aim is to put a scheme in place that will support a range of different businesses and groups.
"We have to get exact clarity on the task first, because there are very different approaches in the room. Some people have insurance, some have not. Some are under insured. And we need to know exactly what each requires," he said.
"And that's why we are working with the local authority, they will collate the results of this survey, bring it forward to Government, and then we will respond quickly," he added.
"We want that feedback to come back in from the businesses. We've listened loud and clear to them at the meeting that we've just held," Minister of State for Local Government and Planning, John Cummins said.
The local authority said specialist contractors continued clean-up operations at the site of the fire
"The local enterprise office has launched a survey to get feedback on what would be assistance to those business owners. And as a Government, we're going to take that and obviously tailor our responses," he added.
Impacted business owners, social enterprises and community groups are now being urged to log on and complete the survey that will feed into the shape of the 'Tycor Back to Business Support Scheme.'
More information on how to make a submission is available on Waterford City and County's website.
Meanwhile, the local authority said specialist contractors continued clean-up operations at the site of the fire.
A spokesperson said that asbestos-containing materials identified in the area have been removed from surrounding roads and footpaths, and clean-up operations of external areas of private houses located within the vicinity of the old Jute Factory commenced yesterday.
"Air quality monitoring is continuing in the vicinity, and no elevated levels of asbestos fibre concentrations have been reported," the spokesperson said.
