Local drug project severely damaged in blaze
THE St Aengus Drug Project has this morning relocated to the local community centre after it was severely damaged in a fire on Sunday evening - and robbed later that night in a separate incident.
Investigations into whether the cause of the fire, which started around 5.30pm, was electrical or gas are ongoing.
Photos by Dublin Fire Brigade
Speaking with The Echo this morning, councillor Mick Duff, who is also the manager of St Aengus Drug Project, said: “We’re devastated.
“There is a lot of water and smoke damage and some of the roof is down.
“When we got in this morning there was also a lot of water lodged in some of the rooms.”
Alongside having to deal with the devastation of the blaze, Cllr Duff said that the centre was also robbed after the fire last night, an incident which has been reported to Gardai.
“The centre wasn’t as secure after the fire and somebody took advantage,” Cllr Duff said.
“They took a telly, three computers and an empty drug safe.”
According to Cllr Duff the gas line melted, which intensified the blaze.
In a comment to The Echo, Dublin Fire Brigade (DFB) said that four fire engines arrived on the scene as “flames from the gas supply caused the eaves to catch alight”.
“Firefighters managed to stop the fire from further spreading,” said DFB.
This morning the project has relocated to the St Aengus Community Centre, with local drug projects across Tallaght reaching out to support the team and its clients in any way they can.
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Video from Dublin Fire Brigade
