The possibility that illegally-held fireworks caused the fire which engulfed a leading wine supplier in Mullingar on Monday night is being examined by local gardaí.
Locals reported seeing youths aiming fireworks at each other on the green area directly in front of the Wines Direct premises, which is located off the Ashe Road/Green Road area near Columb Barracks on the western side of the town.
On resident said she saw a "rocket" type firework strike the roof of the building just a few minutes before fire ripped through the warehouse.
Wines Direct managing director Paddy Keogh said he will reopen for business today, having secured alternative premises.
Up to 60,000 bottles of wine were lost in the fire at the premises. The sound of corks popping on vintages worth up to €500 could be heard on Monday night as firefighters struggled in vain to control the blaze.
Garda forensic experts yesterday examined the scene, but there was no official confirmation of the cause of the blaze.
Mr Keogh said the fire occurred at the busiest time of the year as staff were preparing to meet Christmas orders. The firm employs 22 people and had planned to take on an extra 20-30 temporary workers to meet the Christmas rush. A message on the company's website said its order and delivery service had been temporarily suspended due to "unforeseen circumstances".
A guard on duty at the nearby Columb military barracks alerted the fire service after noticing plumes of smoke billowing from the premises at about 9pm on Monday.
Mr Keogh said he could hear the sound of corks popping as he tried to rescue computer records to allow him to continue business.
Fortunately about 90 per cent of the stock is kept in bond in Dublin and Mr Keogh assured his staff that they would not be losing their jobs over the fire.
"We employ 22 people and I want to assure them, as I was trying to do all last night, it's business as usual."
