A devastating large-scale fire has left a well-established local furniture business in County Donegal, Republic of Ireland, facing extensive damage after breaking out on Thursday evening. The blaze broke out at Cherrymore Kitchens & Bedrooms, a family-owned manufacturing and storage facility based in Donegal Town that this year marks three decades of operation.
Emergency response was triggered at 22:46 local time, when authorities received a 999 emergency call reporting the fire. The first crew of firefighters arriving from Donegal Town quickly assessed that the blaze had already spread extensively across the site, prompting an immediate call for additional backup. In total, 58 firefighters from six brigades across Ballyshannon, Bundoran, Killybegs, Stranorlar, Letterkenny and the local Donegal Town area mobilized to bring the fire under control.
Investigations into the cause of the fire remain ongoing as of Friday, with An Garda Síochána, Ireland’s national police service, confirming the incident is still an active investigation. According to Donegal County Council (DCC) officials, the fire was concentrated in a central storage area that held large volumes of raw wood used for the company’s custom kitchen and bedroom production. This core storage zone was “largely destroyed” by the flames, while other parts of the facility suffered widespread smoke damage. Three fire crews remained on site through Friday morning to dampen hotspots and ensure the fire did not reignite.
Fortunately, no workers or members of the public were present at the facility when the fire broke out, and emergency services have not recorded any injuries related to the incident. In an official social media statement released Friday, Cherrymore’s leadership confirmed the absence of on-site staff at the time of the blaze, and extended gratitude to first responders for their rapid, extensive response. The company also thanked workers at the adjacent Donegal Waste site for their on-the-ground support during the emergency, as well as local community members for their patience as emergency access routes were managed.
Widely recognized as one of the most modern and advanced manufacturing facilities in Ireland, Cherrymore employs a large local workforce and holds a prominent place in the County Donegal business community. The Ballybofey and Stranorlar Chamber of Commerce released a statement Friday expressing solidarity with the McLaughlin family, who own the business, as well as their staff, suppliers and customers who have all been impacted by the incident. The chamber emphasized that the loss comes as a particular blow this year, as the company prepares to mark 30 years of operation. Officials confirmed the local business community stands ready to provide any support necessary to help the firm recover.
Donegal County Council also echoed these sentiments, sharing official condolences for the family and everyone affected by the serious incident. As of Friday, investigations into the exact cause of the fire are continuing.