DUKE STREET FIRE
MAYOR Pio Smith says he’s thankful nobody was killed in a fire at a squat on Duke Street last week.
The fire service were called to the scene at Duke Street House around lunchtime on Wednesday after smoke was seen bellowing from the building.
It has been used as a squat for some time.
Two appliances tackled the incident and one remained on scene for some hours.
It is believed one man had to jump from a window to escape the smoke.
The building has been a home for between 12 and three people at various times. The electricity supply was still working in the building.
“We need to be thankful that nobody lost their life in the fire. There are a number of squats in Drogheda on private property and the council do not have permission to access these premises.
‘With the on-going risks at the squats, I’ll link back in with Louth County Council and ask that we convene a meeting as early as possible to look at the inter-agency approach to this on-going concern.
‘ The Louth Drug & Alcohol Forum is meeting next Wednesday morning, so all the key stakeholders should be there – including public representatives and I will be raising the issue of rough sleepers and squats at that forum,’ the mayor stated.
Fellow councillor Frank Godfrey expressed his concern with the incident. ‘We are going to see more and more issues like this and we have to tackle it.’