A TEAM of naval and Army experts yesterday began an investigation into the cause of a major fire which destroyed a historic building at the Irish Naval Service base on Haulbowline island in Cork Harbour.
According to Naval Service press officer Lt Cdr Terry Ward, Naval Service engineers and experts from the Army Corps of Engineers began an examination of block 4 at the Haulbowline base after the fire was extinguished.
Naval Service military police also began interviewing witnesses on the base to try and establish what caused the blaze which appears to have broken out in the upper floors of the limestone building at about 8.40pm on Tuesday night.
Lt Cdr Ward told The Irish Times: "Once it was determined that there was no danger to life, it was decided that the safest and wisest course of action was to seek the assistance of the fire brigade in Carrigaline and they were here within 10 minutes."
Two units of the Cork Fire Service from Carrigaline were joined by two units from Crosshaven and three units of the Cork City Fire Service.
Up to 40 personnel fought the blaze at one point. The county units used breathing apparatus to fight the blaze which was being fanned by a strong wind. They prevented the fire spreading to the adjacent Combined HQ and Support Services Building.
Firefighters were also assisted by Cork port vessel Gerry O'Sullivan, which came in close to the quayside and sprayed the burning building with water from a high-powered hose.
Firefighters were unable to prevent the roof collapsing. The top three floors were used to store office supplies. The ground floor is shared with University College Cork's Coastal Marine Research Centre. The building, one of six blocks built by the Royal Navy during the Napoleonic era in the early 19th century, was cordoned off with fencing yesterday.