Gardai investigate suspicious fire which gutted Athboy house

A house in Athboy was gutted by a fire which ripped through the property in a suspected arson attack in the early hours of yesterday (Tuesday) morning. Fire crews from Trim and Navan were called to the scene on Connaught Street in the town at around 1am where a blaze had taken hold in the detached house and spread into the roof of the building. The fire was breaking through the roof as the emergency services arrived. It is believed that the fire began in a front upstairs bedroom in the house and spread downstairs. The house was vacant at the time of the blaze but had been occupied up to some time ago when the tenants moved out. It took about an hour for firefighters to bring the blaze under control and the fire services remained on the scene until about 4am. The house was completely destroyed and the roof was gutted by the outbreak. Gardai are investigating the circumstances of the fire and have asked anyone who has any information on the incident to contact Athboy or Kells Garda Stations. A technical examination was carried out at the scene. Gardai could not confirm whether the fire had been started maliciously or not. However, it is understood that arson is suspected. Navan Fire Service also extinguished a fire at an unoccupied house at Flower Hill, Navan, last Wednesday, at around 8pm. The house was totally gutted by the fire and the roof was destroyed. Gardai are investigating the cause of the fire at the single storey terraced house but it is understood that they do not believe it to be suspicious. Youths may have been entering the house but it is believed the fire was accidental. The local fire service brought the blaze under control before it spread into any adjoining properties. Navan Fire Brigade also attended a fire at Hampton Rise, Navan, at around 4.45am on Monday morning. It is understood that the fire was started by a chip pain and extensive damage was caused to the property. However, no-one was injured. Meanwhile, in a busy week for the Meath Fire Service, the well-known pub, the Carnaross Inn, was back in business yesterday (Tuesday) following a fire which caused extensive damage to a storeroom at around lunchtime on Monday. Fire crews from Kells and Navan spent over an hour tackling the blaze, which started shortly after 12 noon. They managed to bring the flames under control and confined the blaze to a storeroom, although there was smoke damage elsewhere in the pub. However, the premises opened for business again yesterday (Tuesday). The Gardai believe the cause of the fire was accidental. Meanwhile, Kells Gardai are also investigating a fire at a house in Carrick Street, Kells, on Saturday 18th June. The fire, which broke out shortly after midnight, caused extensive damage to the premises.