METRO FREE Tuesday, December 22, 2009 GUYS HOLMES RUNMetroLife: Page 14 A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL OUR READERS INSIDE TODAY Guilty Pleasures: Page 8 The worst celeb break-ups of the year revealed Full story: Page 13 Final moments of tragic star Brittany Murphy PLUS Whats on TV tonight Pages 16-17 Farewell, but the best is to come THIS is it, Metro readers: our very last day together. What you hold in your hands is our final issue, before Metro as you know it disappears for ever. For the past four years, Metro has made the daily commute that little bit more colourful with the latest news, quirky stories, brilliant pictures, comprehensive sports coverage and the most widely read letters page in Dublin all for the recession busting price of nothing. But dont panic we merge with our colleagues at HeraldAM in the New Year to bring you the bigger and better Metro Herald. The first issue is out on January 7, coming to a Luas, bus or train near you. Workmen started fire at Guinness Inferno: Firefighters tackle yesterdays blaze at the iconic Guinness plant in the city centre Picture: Collins THE fire which erupted at the iconic Guinness plant in Dublin city centre yesterday was apparently sparked by workmen repairing a roof with a blow-torch. Plumes of thick black smoke bil- lowed across the city skyline as a dozen fire crews battled to bring the inferno under control and stop it from spreading to a nearby ammonia plant. Two firefighters were taken to hos- pital after an ammonia blast when a small release of toxic fumes hit them. Local residents were told to keep their windows and doors closed as the smoke filled the air along the River Liffey. Motorists were also told to avoid the St Jamess Gate area as smoke clogged roads and one of the citys Luas tram lines was closed. Pat Fleming, assistant chief fire of- ficer with Dublin Fire Brigade, said it took three-and-a-half hours to get the inferno under control. It was a large-scale fire, he said. Our main objective was to confine it to a building of origin, which we did. There have been no injuries to any of the Guinness staff but two firefight- ers have been taken to hospital for precaution. The firemen, who were wearing full breathing apparatus, were described as being stable in St Jamess Hospital and their conditions are not life- threatening. BY SARAH STACK It is understood the fire broke out near theVictoria Quay entrance when, shortly after noon, workmen tried to repair a felt roof using a blow-torch and it caught fire. The fire brigade said 11 water ten- ders, three aerial appliances, a decon- tamination unit and an incident com- mand were set up at the scene. Guinness said production of its world famous stout was not affected by the fire. Mr Fleming said ammonia was stored at the plant and was protected. But he said if it had been released the incident would have been very se- rious. A brewery spokeswoman said the fire started at a storeroom which was rarely used and contained plants and empty storage tanks. At the beginning, there didnt seem to be much smoke and then there were huge plumes of smoke, she said. An internal investigation is under way to find out exactly what the cause of the accident was. See Pages 2&3 index.html2.html3.html4.html5.html6.html7.html8.html9.html10.html11.html12.html13.html14.html15.html16.html17.html18.html19.html20.html21.html22.html23.html