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Updated 9.10pm
ALMOST 400 HOMES were left without power this evening after an ESB sub station caught fire in the Ballyfermot area in west Dublin.
The Dublin Fire Brigade said they attended the scene at Blackditch Road with two pumps, and managed to make the scene safe.
It’s understood the sub station has been badly damaged resulting in some 382 customers without power overnight.
Dublin Fire Brigade / TwitterWe're on scene at a @ESBNetworks box on fire on Blackditch Road. Two pumps.
— Dublin Fire Brigade (@DubFireBrigade) December 28, 2016
A spokesperson for the ESB wished to apologise to customers for the inconvenience this evening, confirming that power will remain off overnight for those affected as the area is secured.
ESB network crew are working to restore power with the use of generators, but it is proving difficult, said the spokesperson.
A status update will be available of the ESB website in the morning.
The fire brigade thanked the ESB for their assistance after extinguishing the fire.
An investigation into the cause of the fire will be carried out, however, it does not appear to be caused by vandalism.
ESB Networks / TwitterWe have a fault in the #Ballyfermot area ,updates on https://t.co/VMtxFrW7FY https://t.co/JfYNcPeVZ5
— ESB Networks (@ESBNetworks) December 28, 2016
Dublin Fire Brigade / TwitterWe've finished on scene at the #Ballyfermot sub station fire, thanks to @ESBNetworks for assistance #powercut #blackout #Dublin pic.twitter.com/cNv4dCHSJs
— Dublin Fire Brigade (@DubFireBrigade) December 28, 2016
According to the ESB’s power check website, the loss of power in the area occurred at 6.35 pm this evening.
Additional reporting Christina Finn
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Perhaps Simon should take over the Housing Minister position.
Every story about the homeless has a real live human being behind it. Some like this guy make it out of the gutter, alcohol and the rent situation put him in the gutter.
Yet all we hear from FG supporters here is slander with no bounds, as they queue up to pour their vitriolic bile on anyone who’s situation has being highlighted. Everyone is a sponger, a freeloader, wants a mythical free house, never worked in their life. All to justify the neglect of the poor and less well off, and deflect on the huge damage done to society by government policies.
@Dave Doyle: It’s so true it would make you sick. This country is in one horrible mess and the worst thing is it would take something on a revolutionary scale to change it.
Well done to simon services… the goverment s minister regina Doherity has decided to not give xmas bonus this year is she fr real ??? Pay rises were given to herself and her cohorts but the rest of us are crippled with high taxs we are paying the higest mortgage rates in the EU.. car tax insurance is also higher..half the country are homeless ..hope this goverment including fianna fail who are supporting their decisions are destroyed in the next election…they are not fit fr purpose
@Mari: we are not the most expensive country in the EU, also renting is more prominent in other countries. Yes we have a massive problem with homelessness and people living in emergency accommodation we are not the worst in EU either. This does not mean I think anyone should be let off the hook for the shambles the country is in, but the people here need to take off the rose tinted glasses
@GClare: we absolutely are one of the most expensive countries for gas, electricity, insurance, food, housing and so on.
When you include taxes we get little in return by way of services for all, such as healthcare.
The only person with rose tinted glasses here is you. You clearly haven’t been living in Ireland the last 10years with that attitude.
@Regina Farrell: By your rationale, the government should have their salaries suspended. Certainly housing, justice, healthcare, transport and the Taoiseach. Manipulating the system and doing sweet effay in return.
Fair play to Geoff! Onwards..Great admiration for a person homeless after 7 years and to come back. With the right people anything is possible!
@paul christopher cox: Indeed, imagine if FF/FG/labour gave as much of a care, what might be possible… Geoff and many more might’ve been contributing to our society if our governments had actually come up with solutions instead creating the problems in the first place.
Pity they don’t finance ngo’s the same way public servants are. Staff at NGO’s are the cheap version of public services and are expected to do similar work.
@Brian Smith: now that really does depend on the NGO; take a look into background of charities, remember the scandal a few years ago, that was not made up!!! And it is world wide not just Ireland
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