The Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture (DEFA) has finished its investigation into the deaths of up to 1,000 fish in the Silverburn after the fire at Castletown and Malew fire and ambulance station.
According to Isle of Man Today, pollution entered the river after the blaze on 13 August, which caused serious damage to the station.
The inquiry was carried out by DEFA’s Environmental Protection Unit (EPU), which has not said exactly what caused the pollution.
Isle of Man Today said it understands that foam used to fight the fire may have seeped into the river and killed the fish. The department has not confirmed this.
A DEFA spokesperson said the EPU’s work was complete. The department has since met the Isle of Man Fire and Rescue Service as part of a wider multi-agency debrief. That review is examining the response and how arrangements could be improved to stop anything similar happening again.
The spokesperson added: “Additional monitoring will be undertaken in the coming weeks to assess the river’s recovery and inform any further action, if required.”
After the fire, people walking dogs by the river were advised for several weeks to keep them out of the water. Signs carrying the same warning were put up along the Silverburn’s riverside paths.
In a statement issued shortly after the incident, the Fire and Rescue Service said the building’s fire alarm sounded shortly after 17:00. A member of staff on the premises then found a fire in the main appliance room, where two fire engines were kept.
A full emergency response was sent from other stations around the island. Isle of Man Today reported that nine appliances were at the scene at the peak of the incident. They included a turntable ladder and a specialist appliance from the airport fire and rescue service at Ronaldsway, along with several support vehicles and officers. Police and ambulance crews also attended.
The service said part of the building was substantially damaged. Isle of Man Today reported that two firefighters were hurt, and that a separate investigation into the cause of the fire is continuing.
The paper also reported that one of the two damaged fire engines has now left the site. Mann Recovery Services towed it to Foxdale, where it was put on a trailer to go to Douglas port and on to the UK. Despite the damage, the engine was still driveable, the paper said.
The other engine remains at the station. Isle of Man Today said it cannot be repaired and will probably be scrapped.
