Investigators probe if safety function on windows resulted in blaze spreading downwards
FIREFIGHTERS are investigating if a safety function on the windows of the Metro building resulted in the fire spreading downwards.
The fire, which wreaked havoc at the Ballymun building on Wednesday night, started on the 13th floor and spread to the 10th floor, while leaving the two floors in between relatively unharmed.
One theory Dublin Fire Brigade (DFB) is examining is that the windows automatically opened as a safety measure and burning debris crashed into the 10th floor below.
Chief fire officer of DFB Pat Fleming said the cause of the fire was not known at this stage.
“It started on the 13th floor and was well established by the time we got there. We’re not sure what happened. Fires usually spread upwards, not downwards. The building performed very well in the circumstances, but two floors were destroyed,” he said.
North Strand firefighter and chair of Siptu’s section committee Deirdre Taylor told the Irish
Independent that fire spreading downwards was very unusual.
“Part of the fire protection system in the building causes the windows to open during a fire. There is a possibility that burning debris may have fallen through the 10th floor window and set the [level] on fire,” she said.
Meanwhile, Siptu’s DFB convenor Shane McGill said the two 30-metre ladders used on Wednesday would not have been high enough to reach anyone trapped on the upper floors.
“If there had been people at their windows looking to be rescued, our ladders wouldn’t have been able to reach them,” he said. “We have been calling for a 42-metre ladder along with additional resources for a very long time,” said Mr McGill.
However, according to Mr Fleming, equipment and resources weren’t a problem on the night.
“Post-Grenfell, we’re carrying out a major review of high rise. There will be more high rise built in Dublin, it would appear, but there was no issue with equipment. We had absolutely no problem with resources or equipment,” he said.
Representatives of Siptu and Fórsa members in DFB are now seeking an urgent meeting with the Housing, Planning and Local Government Minister Eoghan Murphy concerning the provision of adequate training, resources and risk assessments to deal with the threat of high rise fires.
Meanwhile, the Metro Hotel management stated it would remain closed for some time.
“No decision can be made about a hotel reopening date until the cause of the fire has been established and all safety considerations have been thoroughly assessed,” a spokesperson said.