A fire broke out at the General Post Office in Limerick on Thursday night, causing significant damage to the building and leading to some panic among local residents. Smoke was first seen billowing through the roof of the Parcels Office section of the building, drawing immediate attention and concern.
Emergency services were quickly alerted, and firefighters had to break into the building to access the source of the flames. The Limerick Fire Brigade arrived promptly on the scene and their swift actions successfully contained the fire, preventing it from spreading to the Letter or Telegraph Departments of the Post Office.
Though the fire was controlled, it regrettably led to the destruction of a small number of parcels. Additionally, the fire caused extensive damage to the Parcels Office which was described as being “gutted” after the incident. Fortunately, there have been no reports of casualties or injuries due to the fire.
An investigation is currently underway to determine the cause of the fire, but no further details have been released at this time. It remains unclear whether the incident is considered suspicious, accidental or the result of a technical issue.
Due to the substantial damage sustained by the Post Office, it is expected that the facility will be closed for the foreseeable future. In the meantime, customers in the Limerick area are advised to visit nearby post offices for their postal needs.
Derby Daily Telegraph – Friday 04 January 1901
