Two youths arrested over Rochfortbridge blaze

Gardaí confirmed this afternoon (Tuesday) that two youths were arrested and cautioned at the scene of a fire which destroyed a pub in Rochfortbridge last Friday.No charges have as yet been brought and a file is being prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions.Fire crews from Mullingar and Kilbeggan worked for nine hours to fight a malicious fire at the Bridge Bar which was started at about 10 am last Friday morning (April 24).A total of 16 fire fighters attended the blaze over the course of the day and two water pumps from Kilbeggan, one from Mullingar and a water tanker were needed to tackle the flames.The fire which totally gutted the pub also spread to Coyne"s shop and garage causing water and smoke damage to two apartments at the top of the building and to the shop floor.Assistant Chief Fire Officer Ruth Holden said that the fire was 'particularly dangerous' as officers struggled to keep it dampened down after they had extinguished the initial blaze.The fire fighters were also acutely aware that the adjacent petrol station pumps had just received a large delivery of fuel.'The problem with was that the crews were fighting a fire in a building within another building,' said Ms Holden.'The premises at the Bridge Bar had been extended out to another area at the back so as well as the bar, there was a lounge area, bathrooms and a dance hall.The roof of the building also began to collapse while the crews were working and steel girders fell into the burned out pub.'Crews were forced to continually dampened the fire as there were concerns that it could reignite,' she said.