A number of homes have been destroyed following a major fire in Carrigaline, Co Cork earlier today.
Emergency services responded to a blaze at the rear of a house in Upper Kilmoney shortly after 12:30 p.m.
On arrival, firefighters from Carrigaline quickly realised the scale of the incident and requested additional support from units in Crosshaven, Midleton, and Cork City.
The fire, which is believed to have started in a garage at one of the properties, spread rapidly to adjoining houses.
The damage is described as extensive, with costs potentially running into hundreds of thousands of euro.
Station Officer Chris Gledhill of the Carrigaline Fire Brigade confirmed that several people had to be evacuated as flames ripped through the homes. Fortunately, no injuries have been reported.
Officer Cledhill also praised the firefighters for their swift and massive response in tackling the blaze.
A Garda Technical Bureau team will carry out a full investigation to determine the cause of the fire. However, early indications suggest that it may have been accidental.
