A Skerries hardware shop has been destroyed in an early morning fire.
The fire broke out at Kingston Hardware and DIY Centre in Strand Street, Skerries, Co Dublin, at about 3am. Eight fire appliances were called to the fire, believed to have been fuelled by gas cylinders in the building.
The business is owned by the Kingston family and run by John Kingston and his son Gary. John's wife, Patty Kingston, said this morning the family business which they had built over 30 years had been destroyed. "It's devastating, there's nothing left," she said.
Mrs Kingston said the family received a called about 3am that the building was on fire and went down to the scene but could only watch as their business burned. "Our livelihood has gone up in smoke," she said.
Mrs Kingston said her husband and son were still at the shop this morning. "I've just come back from there now. It wasn't nice. Everything is gone"
Strand Street was still cordoned off this morning as firefighters dampened down hot spots.
Apartments near the hardware shop were evacuated as the fire, believed to have started in a yard at the rear of the building, took hold.
Local accountant Pat Grimes, who runs C.O'Sullivan and Co, about 500 metres from the hardware shop, said there were concerns about the building's stability. "They don't know how secure or unsecure the building is so they don't know whether to let people walk by or not."
The cause of the fire is being investigated.