CORK:FIREFIGHTERS HAD to use five tankers of water as they struggled with a fire at a factory on the north side of Cork city yesterday.
The area remained without a water supply following the flooding of the city’s main pumping station. But Cork City Fire Brigade had made special provision and had a number of water tankers on standby in the event of fires in the city and they used these tankers yesterday morning to tackle the blaze at the Second Nature Kitchen Collection Store at Hollymount industrial estate.
More than 20 firefighters tackled the blaze which broke out at the factory at about 9.30am and succeeded in bringing the fire under control in less than 15 minutes before continuing with damping down operations.
The blaze happened as Cork City Council engineers continued repair work on the city’s main pumping station on the Lee Road which had to be closed down on Friday after being submerged in flood waters from the river Lee.
Cork-based Fianna Fáil Minister of State for Enterprise Billy Kelleher called for the introduction of an earlier flood warning system.
Meanwhile hotels across Cork city and suburbs provided shower facilities for stricken residents surviving without water.
Hundreds of residents from affected areas, where 18,000 remained without water, availed of showers in hotel rooms in 10 different premises across the city.
Eight hotels, a golf course and a leisure centre reported unprecedented activity, dealing with calls “every 30 seconds” from members of the public desperate for a shower. The rooms and showers are being provided free of charge to a community struggling to survive on water collected from more than 40 collection points across the city.
Staff were offering keys to hotel rooms in 15-minute or half-hour slots to those lucky enough to secure an advance booking.
Michael Magnier, a part-owner at the Vienna Woods Hotel in Glanmire, said well over 100 people availed of showers in five rooms at the hotel dedicated specifically to public use. Hotel staff reported dealing with calls every 30 seconds from members of the public hoping to book a slot to shower.
“I’d say 95 per cent of calls to the hotel were inquiries about using the showers. People are offering money but in lieu of payment we told them they could offer a donation to the Brothers of Charity next door. We don’t expect payment for this. People are in tough times, we are happy to help out,” Mr Magnier said.
Cork City Council has advertised the participating premises on its website.