Kiltimagh family lucky to escape as gorse fire destroys home

DESTROYED The Brennan family home was gutted by a gorse fire at Kiltimagh on Friday evening. Pic: Keith Heneghan/Phocus

Michael Commins

A Kiltimagh family had a lucky escape from tragedy when their home was engulfed in flames and burnt to the ground on Friday evening. The strong east wind over the region carried burning embers from trees and bushes across an open green area, some of which landed on the thatched roof of the two storey house at Derrinalecka, less than two miles from the town.
The devastation wreaked by the fire was clear in the sunshine of a balmy weekend and it was hard to believe that fire had literally come out of the blue to destroy the Brennan family home on which they had worked so hard since moving into the property a few years ago.
Bernie (nee Cannon) and Noel and their three children could only watch as the fire took a grip on the roof and the blaze was out of control in minutes. The house is located around 400 yards off the Kiltimagh to Knock road.
Evidence of the intense fire in the undergrowth on the right-hand side of the narrow Derrinalecka road could be gauged over the weekend as a small area of ground was blackened and burnt to cinders. It was from this area that the airborne embers were carried by the east wind which led to the destruction of the family home.

Inferno
Despite the best efforts of the Fire Brigade, there was nothing they could do to save the house which had become an inferno in a short space of time. The family managed to get a few items out in time, including the communion dress of one of their daughters who was making her First Holy Communion in Kiltimagh Church on Saturday, a laptop computer and some items of furniture.
Family members and relatives have reached out to the Brennan family in the aftermath of their ordeal and plans in relation to a new home and accommodation will be worked out in the coming days. “No one could have envisaged the fire in the area would lead to something like this,” said a neighbour yesterday (Monday). “The house seemed far enough back from the fire to not be in any danger. In the end, it came down to the exceptionally strong east wind.
“If it had happened a few hours later when the family were in bed, it could have been an immense tragedy. Sometimes one has to look at things a little differently in the cold light of day. People here will rally around the Brennan family. Kiltimagh people are known for the way they always come up trumps when some set-back strikes the community. They will do the same on this occasion.”