At 06.29 on the 27th December 1989 a call came from a resident of Blackmill Street to Kilkenny City Fire Station saying that the C.B.S., James Street was on fire.

The first crew left the station at 06.34 in the water tender. On board were J. Traynor (Sub Officer); T. Lacey (Driver); J. Barry; M. Cleere and J. Ayres. At 06.38 the first engine was in attendance. Sub Officer Traynor requested assistance and at 06.41 the snorkel left with M. Kavanagh (Driver); D. Duffy and M. Kavanagh. At 06.43 the snorkel was in attendance.

When Sub Officer arrived at the scene he found the nearest point of entry was the Cathedral grounds. There were flames and smoke coming out the exit doors and also out of the windows. When the first engine arrived firemen Barry and fireman Ayres went to a hydrant on James Street to get water for the water tender. Sub Officer Traynor and fireman Cleere then ran a hose to the exit door. Driver T. Lacey operated the pumps. Sub Officer Traynor left fireman Cleere at the door and laid out another length of hose to the windows. Fr. Maher (who was there from the start) helped sub officer Traynor with the hose across to the windows. Fireman Barry and fireman Ayres were now finished making down to the hydrant and now helped out with firefighting. The fire was brought under control at about 06.55.

When the fire was brought under control the A.C.F.O. Mr J.Ryan was called. Then Sub-officer Traynor and fireman Cleere entered the building with breathing apparatus to check for other fires. When they had finished this they vented the building because it was smoke logged. The firemen stayed there for a number of hours later cleaning up the debris. This was the last major fire of 1989 and it was also the fire of the 80's.

Fire Engine in Carpark of St Mary's Cathedral	Smouldering Remains of Biology Lab
Smoke Damaged Halls	Windows of the Biology Lab
The Exit Door

REPORT ON FIRE IN BIOLOGY LAB, C.B.S., JAMES STREET, KILKENNY
DATE: 27/12/89
TIME OF CALL: 06.29
TURNOUT TIME: 06.36
TIME IN ATTENDANCE: 06.38
SECOND APPLIANCE - TURNOUT TIME: 06.41
IN ATTENDANCE: 06.43

I was the officer in charge of the first appliance. When I
arrived at the scene I found a classroom to the rear of the
school on fire. We entered into the cathedral grounds and
approached the fire from this direction. Smoke and flames were
coming out of the exit door onto this area. Flames were also
seen coming out of the windows to the side facing onto Blackmill
Street. We got one hose to fight the fire at the door to
prevent spread to the rest of the school. A second hose line was
laid over the wooden fence and a Jet of water was used from this
direction to prevent the fire spreading into the Chemistry Lab at
the back. When the fire was under control in this room a
Breathing Apparatus team entered the building to search it and
also to extinguish any other fires and ventilate. Once the
building was ventilated a thorough search and clean up operation
was carried out.

JOE TRAYNOR

Back