Statement issued Company apologises for impact on residents following Cork harbour blaze

The import company R&H Hall, whose grain store went on fire in Cork this morning sending thick plumes of smoke into the air, has apologised to people in the Ringaskiddy area

This evening, the company issued a statement saying it has been liaising with emergency services and the Port of Cork in the wake of the fire, which was tackled by more than 30 firefighters.

The statement continued: "We would like to thank the emergency services and the Port of Cork team for their quick response and ongoing management of the incident.

“We would also like to apologise to local residents, neighbouring businesses and our customers for any inconvenience caused by the incident."

The company’s website states that it has been the leading supplier to the Irish feed industry since 1839.

Meanwhile, Cork County Council has said that fire crews will remain at the site of the blaze throughout the night.

"Crews arrived on site at 9am with tenders from Carrigaline, Cobh and Crosshaven together with an aerial appliance from Midleton and a Command Vehicle from Bandon," the Council said in a statement. "There were no injuries reported as a result of this incident.

"The Port of Cork suspended all shipping operations in Ringaskiddy, however shipping is expected to resume in the morning."

At least two large animal feed warehouses were extensively damaged in the fire which broke out at R&H Hall's large storage facility at the port's deepwater berth in Ringaskiddy.

Firefighters are continuing to hose down the buildings.

Fire officers are investigating whether a rubber conveyor belt used to transport grain between buildings may have been the source of the fire.

It is understood that the black clouds of smoke seen earlier this morning was from the rubber conveyor belt.

Two teams of three firefighters using breathing apparatus entered the main warehouse after the fire spread to two further animal feed bins.

"Fire Service Crews are maintaining a presence on site to expose and extinguish any hot spots that may exist within the storage facility," the Council added. "As Fire Crews manage this incident and remove panels from the structures to access hot spots, any flare up may produce fresh smoke.

"Cork County Council would like to reassure members of the public that this is a standard approach to managing an incident such as this, which involves natural, organic animal feed.

"Any smoke arising from the site is as a result of this organic animal feed material."

In a statement, the Ringaskiddy Residents Association said they were relieved there were no injuries as a result of the fire at the R&H Hall store.

But they say there is concern about “what potential toxins remain in the air as the site continues to smoulder.”

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