The aftermath of a huge fire at Thomas McKenzie & Sons Ltd. on Pearse Street, Dublin, luckily situated just opposite Tara Street Fire Station.

This report is from the front page of the Irish Times on the following day, Friday 10 April 1970: "A serious congestion of traffic was experienced throughout the day in central Dublin yesterday following the fire which destroyed the entire three-storied hardware store of Thomas McKenzie and Sons, Ltd., at Pearse street shortly after 5 a.m. ... The blaze was the worst experienced by crews of Dublin Fire Brigade in five years, according to the city's chief fire officer, Mr. Thomas O'Brien. "It was the fastest spreading fire I have ever seen. In a matter of minutes the entire building was destroyed" ... More than 60 firemen drawn from the central fire station at Tara street—directly opposite the McKenzie building—and from stations at Buckingham street, Dorset street, Rathmines, Dolphin's Barn, Howth and Swords were called to the scene. Ten appliances were deployed at strategic points in the vicinity and in the hour of the greatest activity, 27 hoses were being trained, on the building and nearby premises. No-one was injured. A number of firemen had an anxious moment when the outer wall collapsed onto the roadway. The entire stock of the shop—one of the biggest ironmongery firms in the city—was lost. The estimated damage was put at £300,000 by the firm's managing director, Mr. Michael O'Keeffe."

Date: Thursday, 9 April 1970