Fire crews continue to deal with a fire at a former psychiatric hospital in Co Clare this morning.
The blaze at the old Our Lady’s Hospital in Ennis was reported by at around 6.00am when emergency services received a number of 999 calls. Three units of Clare County Fire and Rescue Service from Ennis station responded to the incident at Dulick on the Gort Road.
On arrival, fire crews found a large section of the building’s entrance area ‘well alight’ with flames bursting through the roof. It’s understood each level from the basement to the roof area have been affected by fire while sections of the roof have collapsed into the upper floor of the building.
Fire crews used a hydraulic platform to tackle the blaze from above and while the fire has been brought under control and contained to one section of the facility, firefighters continue to deal with small pockets of fires in different areas of the building.
The circumstances of the blaze are unknown and it wasn’t immediately clear whether there were any persons inside at the time. Fire crews will carry out a detailed search of the building when officers are happy that it’s safe to do so.
Gardaí also visited the scene this morning and are expected to launch an investigation in the cause of the fire which at this time is considered to be suspicious.
