Montague praises efforts of emergency service workers in Metro Hotel fire

Labour Councillor in Ballymun and representative in Dublin North West, Andrew Montague, has praised the emergency services for their swift reaction in dealing with last night’s fire at the Metro Hotel in Ballymun and their dedication to protecting the community.

Cllr Montague said:

“I think for anyone who witnessed last night’s fire in Ballymun or saw the video footage and pictures on social media, memories of the tragic Grenfell fire disaster in London would have sprung to mind.

“Thankfully we can be extremely grateful that there has been no loss of life or serious injuries reported in this blaze, and that whatever evacuation procedures and safety routes were in place clearly worked.

“We also have to commend and give huge thanks to members of the Dublin Fire Brigade and emergency service workers for their bravery and dedication in protecting the community in the face of the extreme danger posed by the fire.

“As their investigations begin into what started the blaze it will become clear what lessons are to be learned. There are also many people who lost their homes last night, and we must give all the help we can to get them rehoused as quickly as possible.

“Last night’s event serves as another reminder that we can’t be complacent about fire safety and the proper evacuation procedures must be in place for all high rise buildings and hotels in the city.

“In the coming days, we will also need to know what happens next in terms of the rebuilding of the hotel which is an important feature in the Ballymun community.”