LAST UPDATE | 12 Jun
US actor Henry Winkler, best known as The Fonz from sitcom Happy Days, has praised Dublin firefighters involved in this morning's evacuation of the historic Shelbourne Hotel | Read more: https://t.co/X5dqu1Dd8N pic.twitter.com/lVikhTno7r
— RTÉ News (@rtenews) June 12, 2024
AMERICAN ACTOR HENRY Winkler has praised Dublin Fire Brigade after it dealt with a small fire in the Shelbourne Hotel this morning.
The Shelbourne was evacuated this morning after a fire broke out on the fifth floor.
Dublin Fire Brigade it was called to the fire just after 10.30am this morning and swiftly dealt with the fire. No one was injured and staff and guests were allowed to re-enter the hotel after midday.
Thank you Dublin ‘s fire department … our hotel was evacuated on our first morning !!! pic.twitter.com/kyByb5VSoM
— Henry Winkler (@hwinkler4real) June 12, 2024
Speaking to RTÉ outside the hotel, Winkler – who is staying at the Shelbourne – praised the firefighters.
“How wonderful. Firemen are some of my favourite human beings,” the TV star said.
“Firemen and firewomen ,they run in when other people are running out. I think they deserve to be shook,” he said, after he shook a number of their hands.
Winkler – who is known best for playing Arthur “Fonzie” Fonzarelli in the hit 1970s sitcom Happy Days – also gave an account of what happened:
“When I heard the fire alarm I thought it was the clock radio. I thought somebody had set the alarm before we got there, like another guest,” he said.
“And finally I went into another room and it was still buzzing so I called downstairs and the woman said in a very calm voice – ‘yes we’re all evacuating, you must evacuate right now!’ And I left.”
Winkler is in Ireland for his one-man show The Fonz and Beyond.
In a statement, Dublin Fire Brigade said:
“Six fire engines from Tara Street, Donnybrook and Dolphins Barn fire stations responded to the incident and firefighters located the fire on the 5th floor of the building,” DFB said in a statement.
Firefighters were called to a fire in a premises on St Stephen's Green at 1038 this morning
— Dublin Fire Brigade (@DubFireBrigade) June 12, 2024
The fire is under control with an effective evacuation helping enormously
Six fire engines including a turntable ladder and emergency tender remain on scene
Traffic restrictions in area pic.twitter.com/qaTLfT4M9u
“A prompt and effective evacuation by staff helped enormously at the scene and the fire was brought under control by 11.30 hrs.
Firefighting operations ceased at 11.58 hrs and traffic restrictions are expected to be lifted shortly.
Gardaí said they were assisting at the scene and no injuries have been reported.
Images from the scene showed a number of units at the hotel, as well as staff and guests on the footpath outside. Firefighters used a hose and turntable ladder to deal with the fire.
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