A Horeswood baptism of fire for new water tanker
THREE days after arriving at New Ross fire station, a new water supply tank was brought into use for a fire at a tomato growing company in Horeswood.
Two units of New Ross fire brigade attended the fire at 6.20 a.m. at Wexford Tomatoes Ltd, Ballinamona, Campile. Upon arrival the firemen started attempting to extinguish a blaze in a 60 tonne wood-chip bunker. Located underground, the firemen had difficulty attacking the blaze.
Two, two-firefighter crews wearing breathing apparatus tackled the fire and once it was brought under control after several hours, the firefighters left the scene at 3.45 p.m.
The fire service for the New Ross district was bolstered with the purchase of the €100,000 special water supply tank.
Assistant chief fire Officer Ray Murphy said: ‘It was very difficult to get into the fire as there was a substantial amount of wood-chip. The water tanker was put into use and showed how invaluable it is in rural areas,’ adding that water supply falls off the further you move from a town like New Ross into the country.
Company owner Matt Wallace praised the firemen for getting to the scene so quickly. He said a major clean up operation is under way at the growing company which employs around 20 people.