Photo: Cork City Fire Brigade

Members of the fire brigade attended a blaze in the early hours of this morning at the derelict former Vita Cortex factory on Kinsale Road in Cork.

Fire fighters were called to the scene at around 4.45am after reports of a fire. 

They dealt with what was described as a small fire but had to return later with five units after reports came in of an even bigger fire.

While a garda forensic examination has yet to take place, early indications suggest the fires were started deliberately.

Cork City Fire brigades say the fire is under control now but that dampening down operations are continuing.

Green Watch crews from Anglesea Street are dealing with a building fire on the Kinsale Road. We were alerted at 04.45 and 5 units attended, including our @bronto_skylift Aerial Ladder Platform. The fire is now under control, with dampening down continuing 🚒🔥 pic.twitter.com/oQjAOVRibV

It’s the latest in a string of fires in vacant or derelict buildings in Cork, with investigations ongoing into a fire that broke out at the former Loreto Convent building on Lighthouse Hill last weekend.

Just days before, Cork City Fire Brigade attended a blaze at the site of the former Sunset Ridge hotel on Bonfire Night as fires took place all over the city, with a number getting out of hand and requiring the intervention of fire services including those based at Anglesea Street and Ballyvolane.

The Vita Cortex site is a formally declared derelict site but has been considered for development, with an apartment block and a discount retail store having featured in pre-planning talks.

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