Arson not ruled as root of Moate house fire

Gardai in Moate have not ruled out arson as a possible cause of a fire which damaged two vacant houses in the town at the weekend. The alarm was first raised at no 23 in the Toorvalley estate on Ballymore road around 11.15pm on Saturday night and a unit of Kilbeggan Fire Brigade was quickly dispatched to the scene. They were later joined by a unit from Athlone in a bid to quell the flames which spread from the first house to the semi-detached home next-door, which was also vacant at the time. The initial house was extensively damaged as result of the fire with estimates of over €30,000 damage caused. The adjacent property was also slightly damaged. Although fire services departed the scene after 3am, they were called back some hours later as Gardai became concerned when the smouldering embers reignited. Fire officers returned and dampened down the flames for a second time. The scene was preserved for technical examination by scenes of crime officers which took place on Sunday. When asked whether the fire is being treated as arson, Sgt Paul McNally of Moate Garda Station told the Westmeath Independent this week that they have not ruled anything out at this stage and are currently awaiting forensic results. House-to-house enquiries were also carried out in the area in the aftermath of the fire. Appealing for witnesses, Sgt McNally urged anyone in, or around the estate, who noticed any suspicious activity on Saturday night to come forward in confidence to Moate Gardai 090 6481106. The home where the fire first broke out is the end house in the estate, just before a partition erected to close off the rest of the site where there are unfinished buildings. It's thought quite a number of the houses in the estate are currently vacant.