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The electrical junction box that caused the fire. Dublin Fire Brigade

'We're in limbo': Over a dozen families forced to move after Dublin fire

The fire occurred this morning in Smithfield.

NEARLY 100 HOMES were without power in north Dublin today after a fire broke out at an electrical box in an apartment complex. 

The fire broke out this morning on Queen Street, Smithfield, causing dozens of people to be evacuated from homes in the area. 

Power has since been restored after the fire was extinguished by Dublin Fire Bridgade, but nearly 20 families could be temporarily forced to live in alternative accommodation due to the damage caused by the electrical fire. 

At one stage, ESB figures showed that over 90 homes were without power.

A spokesperson for Dublin City Council confirmed to TheJournal.ie that four housing blocks saw their electricity supply disrupted by the fire. 

However, the spokesperson said that restoring power to one of the blocks would take longer because it is “complex by nature”. 

“Dublin City Council is currently finding alternative temporary accommodation for a number of families until power is restored to their accommodation,” they said. 

However, residents have expressed concern about where this accommodation might be. 

Michelle O’Neill, a local resident, told TheJournal.ie that between 15 and 19 families will be forced into alternative accommodation as a result of the fire. 

O’Neill said that they were still waiting to find out where they’ll be housed. “We’re in limbo,” she said.

“It’s just a waiting game,” she added. 

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    Mute Maurice Frazer
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    Sep 14th 2019, 7:48 PM

    Thank God no one injured, but I does raise more questions about the safety of buildings built recently

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    Mute Daraghosullivan
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    Sep 15th 2019, 7:21 AM

    @Maurice Frazer: and what might those questions be?

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    Mute herp
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    Sep 14th 2019, 8:22 PM

    And fire authority sign off on new builds.

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    Mute Fr. Fintan Stack
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    Sep 14th 2019, 8:28 PM

    @herp: If it was a buss bar or connection that went up that’s bad workmanship. Are you seriously suggesting a fire authority or any type of compliance checker can check every single terminal and connection on an installation?

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    Mute David Daly
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    Sep 14th 2019, 11:05 PM

    @Fr. Fintan Stack: incorrect. Every circuit from a panel is checked these days and should be certified. In addition all panels built are tested in the factory so I would expect ALL connections can be verified on paper. Proving this would be next to impossible. Also who’s to say it wasn’t a bogey part.

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    Mute Fr. Fintan Stack
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    Sep 15th 2019, 9:35 AM

    @David Daly: So the “fire Authority” (DCC) should check every single connection for tightness using spanners/torque wrenches/screwdrivers from every light fitting, socket, consumer unit, main board, etc? It’s never going to happen. After all a fire from a loose connection can happen on any part of an installation, not just the main board. Read my post I said installation, not just main board. Is it really good enough for an electrician to accept a bit of paper from a factory to say all connections are tight? He/She should recheck. The problem with these new builds during the so called Celtic tiger was RECI self certification. So as I said if it is a loose connection it would be bad workmanship. And I don’t know if it was a bogey part or not. My first word in my post was “If”. The problem with so much of the building problems that happened during the Celtic tiger is that contractors are getting away with these issues and somehow the blame gets heaped on the authorities.

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    Mute Margaret Kane
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    Sep 14th 2019, 8:22 PM

    Thats what happens when you employ cheap labor

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    Mute artur filip
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    Sep 14th 2019, 9:12 PM

    @Margaret Kane: how do you know that was done with cheap labour?

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    Mute Eamonn Connaghan
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    Sep 14th 2019, 9:42 PM

    @Margaret Kane: nothing cheap about electricians in this country

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    Mute Conall
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    Sep 15th 2019, 9:17 AM

    @Margaret Kane: It’s much worse when it happens after employing expensive labour – a too regular occurrence

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    Mute Conall
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    Sep 15th 2019, 9:16 AM

    Everyone involved in the construction/installation of the box might have done their job properly, but a mistake was made somewhere. All efforts should be concentrated on not compounding the problem by taking ages to get a new one installed. Don’t let bureaucracy (the curse of the public sector) make things worse.

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    Mute Alan Dillon
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    Sep 15th 2019, 4:24 PM

    @Conall: Yeah , them bureaucratic public servants.. the same public servants that put the fire out

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    Mute Pat Farrelly
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    Sep 16th 2019, 12:10 AM

    I saw a similar type of fire a few years ago. It was caused by a rat chewing through the wiring in the electrical box.

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