Editorial: Ripple of tragedies in Waterford city heartland after blaze tears through Jute Factory 

Waterford business owners, residents and members of the wider community have been devastated by the horrific blaze that tore through large sections of Tycor Business Centre, formerly the Jute Factory, in Waterford city on Saturday evening.

The scale of the blaze and its destructive force is still only becoming apparent, with approximately 40 small and medium enterprises and groups, which occupy the business centre owned by the Causeway Group, impacted.

Some fear that everything they had in the business centre has been lost, including costume company Nomac Productions, which kept its thousands of costumes in their unit at the centre. It is heartbreaking for Nomac owner and founder Blanáid MacCann, who was only recently awarded the Waterford News & Star Green Room Lifetime Achievement Award for her contribution to Waterford arts, theatre and culture. 

Nomac's story is one of many, the ripples of which are being felt across families and communities in Waterford city and beyond.

These businesses employed hundreds of people, and served many more. 

Alongside the immense loss being experienced by these enterprises, there also remains a serious public health concern.

Waterford City and County Council issued advisory warnings on Sunday, after a meeting with the HSE's public health unit, over fears of asbestos particles being airborne as a result of the blaze.

The former Jute Factory premises is in the heart of Waterford's inner city suburbs, ringed on all sides by residential streets and homes.

Morrison’s Avenue, Griffith Place and Tycor Avenue remained closed until further notice as a result of the fire, and public health advice was that those not resident in the immediate vicinity should avoid the area.

Waterford City and County Council emphasised that it was important "not to disturb or aerosolise particles", urging residents to keep windows and doors closed, and not to touch, move or remove any debris, ash or soot deposits. This includes not dry sweeping dust or debris, not using power washers, and not mowing grass.

Residents were also urged to rewash any clothing that might have been drying outdoors during the fire, and also to avoid exercising outdoors in the vicinity of the blaze site. 

While Waterford Council's timely approach on Sunday is to be commended, it is essential that there is complete transparency going forward around any implications for public health as a result of the fire, and also what caused it and whether it could have been prevented. The dangers and repercussions of potential asbestos contamination need to be fully outlined and explained.

Politicians of various political affiliations attended the blaze site on Sunday, in a show of solidarity with those impacted. It is essential now that robust support is provided for these businesses and groups.

This fire may not have destroyed one large employer in the city, and therefore might not gain as much national attention as a similar event elsewhere. However, this network of businesses and groups, whose bricks and mortar premises have been gutted in one night, have a huge reach economically in Waterford, and involve far greater complexity in terms of finding a path forward. 

Tycor Business Centre was home to countless flourishing enterprises, ironically building a future for themselves in what was once a longtime city employer - the Jute Factory, which was immortalised by local playwright Jim Nolan in his work, 'The Gods are Angry, Miss Kerr'. 

What we are witnessing is a ripple of tragedies, in the heartland of one of the oldest parts of Waterford city.