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Huge fire at coffin makers in Strabane as witnesses report lightning strike

A thunderstorm warning is place in Tyrone and 13 other counties.

FIREFIGHTERS ARE BATTLING a large fire at a coffin makers in Strabane, Co Tyrone.

Emergency services are at the scene of the fire at O’Doherty & Sons on Railway Street in the border town. The business has a history of over 100 years at the location. 

The PSNI has said that the blaze is ongoing and are urging people to avoid the area. 

“Police are advising the public that due to a fire on Railway Street in Strabane, they should avoid the area to allow emergency services to deal with the blaze. Our officers are at the scene, please follow their directions,” the PSNI said in a tweet. 

A thunderstorm warning is place across all of Northern Ireland and some counties in the Republic, with several unconfirmed reports from witnesses that the fire was started by a lightning strike. 

Local Alliance Party councillor Stephen Donnelly said that there were “deeply disturbing images emerging from Strabane town centre”.

“Thankful to the fire service as they seek to bring the blaze under control, and my thoughts are with the businesses and workers impacted,” he tweeted this evening

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22 Comments
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    Mute Emmet O'Keeffe
    Favourite Emmet O'Keeffe
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    Mar 10th 2017, 9:30 PM

    Hopefully this man has not suffered incapacitating injuries, Falls from scaffolding can be compounded by what’s littering the surface underneath. I’m sure a proper site inspection regards rails was carried out.
    Wishing him the best in his recovery.

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    Mute Ed Walsh
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    Mar 10th 2017, 11:02 PM

    Great to see a fire based Ems response giving this man the very best of treatment hope he has a speedy recovery

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    Mute HoneyBadger617
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    Mar 10th 2017, 9:50 PM

    Very rare now to see scaffolding injuries true falling with the arrival of safety harnesses. Makes you wonder if people bother to wear them all the time.

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    Mute Declan McArdle
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    Mar 10th 2017, 10:05 PM

    Do you mean through, as in: due to?

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    Mute Colm Ó Liatháin
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    Mar 10th 2017, 11:30 PM

    @HoneyBadger617: you clip a harness on at least 10 foot above your head or there usless.Thats a bit hard when there’s no even scaffolding built yet.

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    Mute John Strahan
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    Mar 11th 2017, 12:10 AM

    How do you clip a harness in 10 feet above your head? Are you trained in work at height? Obviously not or you wouldn’t make such a stupid comment

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    Mute John Strahan
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    Mar 11th 2017, 12:26 AM

    Apologies, read that wrong

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    Mute Keith Fealy
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    Mar 11th 2017, 12:36 AM

    The only reason he’d be wearing a harness is if he was building the scaffold. Otherwise he should be working off a fully boarded and handrailed platform. If it wasn’t as scaffolder them one of two things happened, either the scaffold wasn’t safe to use or he wasn’t using correctly. Hope the lad’s ok but incidents like this just shouldn’t be happening in this day and age. Also, that ten foot above your head comment is ridiculous. I wear a harness with a 2 metre lanyard. If I clip on 10ft above my head I’ll be suspended 3ft above the ground!!

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    Mute Colm Ó Liatháin
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    Mar 11th 2017, 1:09 AM

    @John Strahan: fully trained scaffolder actually

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    Mute Colm Ó Liatháin
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    Mar 11th 2017, 1:11 AM

    @Keith Fealy: your full of shite

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    Mute Keith Fealy
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    Mar 11th 2017, 1:28 AM

    Explain how you can hook on ten feet over your head when a mini block or lanyard only stretches two metres from between your shoulders? How do you even reach 10ft above your head? I’m also a scaffolder so I have a fair idea what I’m talking about. So go have a think about what you meant to say and get back to me.

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    Mute Colm Ó Liatháin
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    Mar 11th 2017, 2:13 AM

    @Keith Fealy: read the safety instructions that come with it. You could obviously turn yours sideways and stick it up your arse with a better chance of saving you.

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    Mute Keith Fealy
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    Mar 11th 2017, 2:20 AM

    I’ll try and put this in as simple terms as possible. A lanyard or mini-block to stretches 2 metres. 10 feet is more than two metres. Therefore it is impossible to hook on 10 feet over your head wearing a normal harness and mini-block/lanyard.

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    Mute Keith Flood
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    Mar 11th 2017, 7:17 AM

    Scaffolders wear harnesses when erecting and dismantling . Scaffolding users i.e. Other trades don’t generally wear harnesses .

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    Mute Keith Flood
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    Mar 11th 2017, 7:18 AM

    False , inertia reels , clip on anywhere .

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    Mute Colm Ó Liatháin
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    Mar 11th 2017, 2:03 AM

    I already did. You figure it out. You clearly haven’t a fecking clue what you are talking about, but fire away regardless

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    Mute Colm Ó Liatháin
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    Mar 11th 2017, 3:03 AM

    Your funny

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    Mute Keith Fealy
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    Mar 11th 2017, 3:47 AM

    *you’re

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