‘Bridge woman left homeless

 

Residents in Sixmilebridge have rallied in support of a local woman who has been left homeless after an accidental fire gutted her home on Friday night.

Clare County Council is providing emergency accommodation in a local bed and breakfast after Anne Manning of Cappanalough, Sixmilebridge, lost all her personal belongings when her house burned to the ground.

Ms Manning was attempting to light her Superser gas heater by pressing the flame button at about 6.30pm when it caught fire and quickly spread to the rest of the old farmhouse. Within minutes the house was engulfed in flames and Ms Manning was forced to flee.

Although Ms Manning escaped serious injuries, her hair and hands were slightly burned. Three units of the fire brigade from Ennis, Shannon and Limerick responded to the call out and crews spent a number of hours fighting the blaze.

In fact, Clare County Council had to provide a JCB to lift off the galvanised roof to help fire fighters get water on the inside thatch. Even the walls of the house were totally breached by the intense heat.
The house and farmyard, located near the Gullet Cross, were still sealed off on Wednesday as local firemen continued their technical examination.

Ms Manning thanked all her neighbours and friends who have been very kind and helpful since this unfortunate incident, which comes just a few weeks after her mother, Mary, who was in her 80s, died. The Mannings are highly regarded in the locality, illustrated by the groundswell of sympathy evoked in the community after the blaze.

Councillor PJ Ryan, a neighbour, said he had been approached by numerous people pledging financial assistance and other forms of assistance for Ms Manning.

“Houses which had a thatched roof were later covered by a galvanised roof which was common 50 years ago. However, such houses are difficult to insure. The drier the inside of the house, the drier the thatch which becomes very flammable in the event of a fire,” he said.

Councillor Ryan explained thatch was used as an insulation and to prevent the galvanise from weeping in frosty weather.

“It is very sad that this fire happened so close to Christmas for Ann Manning, who also lost her mother in recent weeks. This is something you would not like to see happen anyone. People have been very quick to offer help in different forms,” he added.