Two people have been treated for smoke inhalation and staff and students have been evacuated after a fire broke out at the science block in University College Cork (UCC) on Thursday afternoon.
The fire broke out in the roof area of the Kane Building, which houses the physics and chemistry departments, on Gaol Walk near the UCC campus, off Western Road at about 2.20pm.
The building was quickly evacuated and two people, who were working near the scene of the fire, were treated for smoke inhalation on campus by paramedics who responded to the emergency.
Five units of Cork city fire brigade, involving some 20 firefighters, were quickly on the scene and used breathing apparatus to bring the blaze in the six-storey building under control.
The building, which was opened for lectures in 1970 before being completed in 1971, was named the Kane Building in 1997 after Sir Robert Kane FRS, the first president of Queen’s College Cork.
In a statement, UCC paid tribute to Cork city fire brigade personnel for their prompt response and bringing the fire under control at the building which includes a number of large lecture theatres.
“Health-and-safety procedures were followed, the building was safely evacuated and the emergency services were alerted. UCC would like to thank Cork city fire brigade for its work in quickly bringing the fire under control,” said UCC in its statement.
