Cleanup operations following last weekend’s major fire at the old Jute Factory Tycor Business Centre in Waterford City are expected to take up to two weeks to complete, as asbestos contamination continues to be managed at the site.

Fire crews from Waterford City, Tramore, Dunmore East, Portlaw and Dungarvan, supported by Kilkenny Fire Service, were called to the blaze on Saturday evening. Over the course of the night, the fire was brought under control, however the building was extensively damaged with over 30 businesses left destroyed.

Cleanup operations in adjacent residential areas also took place this week.

A meeting involving impacted business operators, Enterprise Minister Peter Burke, Minister of State John Cummins and Council Chief Executive Sean McKeown was held at The Tower Hotel earlier this week, with Government support pledged for those affected. Taoiseach Micheál Martin has also confirmed support at Government level.

Concerns have also been raised locally about asbestos in older buildings across the city and county in the aftermath of the fire. At a recent plenary meeting of Waterford City and County Council, Councillor Mary Roche called for a wider assessment of such properties.

She said: “I think we need to be aware of those buildings, maybe not today, but in the aftermath of this, I think we need to have an assessment of those buildings and the safety of them and if any remediation measures need to be taken in advance of something like this happening again in order to ward it off.”

She added: “I am quite sure that this is going to be a huge burden financially on this council and on the central government as well. So, if there’s anything that we can do to ward that off, I think we should learn from that and try and put something in place.”

She also commended the emergency response, saying: “I want to commend the firebrigade for their bravery and dedication on the night and the comm staff who have been excellent and the entire management and emergency response team who have done a huge amount of work and continue, I’m sure, to learn from this.”

Chief Executive Sean McKeown says asbestos only becomes a risk when fibres are released into the air.

He said: “Our understanding is that asbestos is completely okay as long as it’s not disturbed and the fibres become airborne, and that’s the issue we’re currently dealing with in the cleanup at the Tycor Business Centre.”

He added: “There’s no issue with asbestos roofs as they currently stand. It’s when they’re impacted by fire or other works that the fibres become airborne, and that’s when it becomes a hazard.”

He also says he is confident the Government will cover the costs of the cleanup, after discussions with Ministers following the Tycor fire.

He concluded saying: “We’re looking at 10 days to two weeks in terms of program before the cleanup is comprehensively completed.”

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