Three Macroom firefighters were rushed to Cork University Hospital in the early hours of this morning after suffering burns in an explosion as they were fighting a fire in Kilmichael.
THREE firefighters were rushed to Cork University Hospital in the early hours of this (Sunday) morning after suffering burns when a barrel exploded as they were fighting a fire at a garage adjoining a house in Kilmichael, between Macroom and Dunmanway in West Cork.
The alarm was raised around 12.40am and a unit of Macroom Fire Brigade was on the scene of the fire within half-an-hour. The firefighters were trying to stop the fire spreading to the house when the barrel exploded, injuring three members of the Macroom unit.
The three injured were rushed to CUH by gardai who also attended the scene. They suffered serious burns to their hands and faces, but these are not thought to be life-threatening.
The Macroom brigade was joined by firefighters from Dunmanway and they brought the blaze under control within two hours. An investigation into the cause of the blaze and the explosion is under way.
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