Probe into Mayo ambulance explosion escalated after similar incident in Offaly

An urgent investigation is under way into potential dangerous faults in two new ambulances - including one in Castlebar - that caught fire in the space of a few days.

That's according to a report in the Irish Independent.

The National Ambulance Service (NAS) confirmed the first was a recently commissioned emergency ambulance destroyed by the fire while parked adjacent to the Sacred Heart Hospital in Castlebar in the early hours of last Saturday.

A second ambulance, a new community paramedic response vehicle that was awaiting entry to service, caught fire in a commissioning centre in Tullamore, Co Offaly, last Thursday.

A spokesperson told the newspaper neither vehicle was in use at the time, no patients were affected and no staff were injured.

“While the two vehicles affected are different makes, models and types, an initial technical examination has identified a possible issue, which is now being urgently explored in further detail with vehicle suppliers,” she said.

It is understood technical staff are examining whether there is a problem with an auxiliary battery.

A serious incident management team has been established, and both fires are being managed in line with the HSE’s Incident Management Framework.

Staff have been sent a bulletin telling them that if they smell smoke, they should call the National Emergency Operations Centre (NEOC), which serves as the critical command centre responsible for managing and co-ordinating responses to medical emergencies, the report further outlines.

In line with health and safety requirements, all staff on duty have also been alerted to the two known incidents, asked to remain vigilant, and reminded of current fire safety, vehicle evacuation and incident-reporting procedures, said the spokesperson.

The NAS responses to the public “are unaffected by the current precautionary measures, which will remain under constant review”.

The NAS has 437 patient-carrying vehicles, including emergency ambulances, intermediate care vehicles and critical-care ambulances.

“All NAS vehicles are subject to a crew inspection at the commencement of each shift, as well as a safety inspection every eight weeks,” the NAS spokesperson added.