Major blaze in Navan

Firefighters from across the county are tackling a significant fire at a premises just off the Trim Road in Navan this afternoon.

The blaze in what is believed to be a disused factory unit at the old Navan Steel yard at the rear of Connolly Avenue broke out shortly after 2pm and at least three units of the Navan fire service, one of them a water tanker, raced to the scene.

Two units from Trim fire service are also now at the scene and Navan fire service has brought in a high platform ladder to fight the flames from above roof level.

A large pall of black smoke can be seen over the town and gardai have closed off Carriage Road to allow the emergency services access the site of the fire.

Residents of Connolly Avenue have been evacuated as a precaution as a number of small explosions have been heard, possibly from exploding gas cylinders.