In brief
Waterford fire brigade said it received an emergency call from a member of the public at 5.13am on Tuesday, 13 October 2026, about a fire at a domestic residence in the Birchwood estate.
Several people are feared dead, and the deceased are understood to be from the same family, but gardaí have not provided a confirmed number and describe the incident as an ongoing evolving incident.
Taoiseach Micheál Martin said his thoughts and prayers were with those who have lost their lives and asked the public to give space to first responders and gardaí.
Sinn Féin TD for Waterford David Cullinane told RTÉ Radio 1's Morning Ireland that he knew the family well and that children were involved, adding that he understood the fatalities to be very high.
The fire
A house fire in the Birchwood housing estate, just off the Killure Road and south of Waterford city, has left a number of people feared dead. The fire began in the early hours of Tuesday, 13 October 2026, at a domestic residence. Waterford fire brigade said it received an emergency call from a member of the public at 5.13am. The deceased are understood to be from the same family, a household well known in the area. No official death toll had been given in the reports reviewed, and the number of people who died has not been confirmed.
Emergency response
Gardaí, firefighters and other emergency services remained at the scene, and Gas Networks Ireland staff also attended. Gardaí described the incident as an "ongoing evolving incident" and said they were not in a position to provide further detail at this stage. Emergency services were working to establish the exact circumstances of the fire, while efforts were under way to contact and inform the families involved. No cause for the fire is given in the reports so far.
Official reaction
Taoiseach Micheál Martin described the fire as a "deeply disturbing situation" and said details were still unfolding. He said:
“Our thoughts and prayers are with anybody who has lost their lives and all who are affected.”
Martin also thanked the first responders at the scene and asked the public to give them space, along with the gardaí, to deal with what he called a very worrying situation.
Local reaction
David Cullinane, the Sinn Féin TD for Waterford, told RTÉ Radio 1's Morning Ireland that he knew the family well and had met one of its members only very recently. He said there was heartbreak in the community, and he described the impact on the family in these words:
“People will know the family and there is absolute heartbreak when you have children involved as well, so it's obviously very emotional.”
Cullinane said the family did not yet know the number of fatalities, but that he understood it to be very high. He said he was still in shock himself.
What is not yet known
The number of people who died has not been confirmed, and the reports use wording such as several, a number of and feared dead rather than a figure. Gardaí said the incident remains ongoing and that they would issue a statement later. Investigators have not yet established how the fire started, and the identities of those who died have not been released.