Fire causes extensive damage to Spicers bakery in Trim

Trim Gardai are treating as suspicious a fire that extensively damaged a building at the former Spicers premises in the town yesterday (Tuesday) morning and are appealing for witnesses. The alarm was raised at approximately 3.30am and crews from Trim and Navan Fire Services rushed to the scene where the blaze had firmly taken hold of a building at the rear of the property. The Spicers property fronts on Market Street but the fire was in a building at the rear that was the former bakery, and this building was extensively damaged. Smoke damage was also caused to the adjoining McEvoys Funeral Home premises. Trim Gardai are investigating the cause of the fire and say they are treating the fire as suspicious though can cannot confirm or deny whether it was maliciously started at this stage. It is understood that there was no sign of forced entry. The scene was technically examined by the Navan Scenes of Crime Unit and the Chief Fire Officer of Meath Fire Service. Gardai are appealing to anyone who noticed anything suspicious in the early hours of Tuesday morning to contact them. Gardai are awaiting the results of the technical examination. Fire crews remained on the scene until 7am yesterday (Tuesday) morning. Members of Trim Fire Service returned to the scene later that morning for approximately an hour after the fire rekindled. Declan Rispin, who runs McEvoys Funeral Home said he got a call at 4am to open the premises. “The building where the fire was, was only four feet away from my building. The wind was blowing away the flames. There were flames at the back fo my building and sparks were landing on the hearse in the yard,” he said. Mr Rispin alerted the fire brigade to how close the premises was to his premises and said they then came into his yard. “There was a lot of smoke damage to my premises and even today there is a terrible smell of smoke. I am just glad I didn’t have a family mourning a loved one today. How could I open my premises to them this morning.” Mr Rispin said he would like to thank the lady who phoned 999. “Only for her my business wouldn’t be standing today. If she would like to make herself known, I would like to shake her hand. She saved my business,” he said. Meanwhile, Trim councillor Ray Butler is calling on the owners of derelict properties in the town to tighten up their security measures. He said: “I will be asking the town clerk to write to the people who own derelict premises to ask them to tighten up their security. They have an obligation to the premises beside them to keep them locked up and keep security tight.” Cllr Butler said that derelict buildings can attract anti-social behaviour at night. “I am calling on the owners of derelict premises to step up to the mark and try and put in more security. Derelict buildings are magnets for anti-social behaviour.”