Updated: 2.30pm
A woman in Co Kildare made a lucky escape when the car she was driving went on fire at a McDonald’s drive-thru in Newbridge.
The fire broke out at 11.30am in the Moorefield area of the town.
A van driver sitting in his vehicle at the restaurant noticed smoke coming from the woman’s car at the drive-thru and told her to get out of the vehicle.
The car subsequently burst into flames and the fire spread to the building, completely gutting the premises. Staff and customers inside the building were safely evacuated.
A local woman who runs a pharmacy across the road from McDonald’s told RTÉ’s Liveline: “The woman is shaken but she said she is grateful her grandchildren were not with her. We brought her into an office, so she could not see what was happening to the building and gave her tea.”
She added that many of the McDonald’s staff were being looked after at the pharmacy as they were in shock.
Three units were deployed from Newbridge Fire Station and firefighters remained at the scene for several hours.
A statement from Gardaí confirmed there were no reported injuries following the incident. It added that Moorefield Road in Newbridge remains closed and motorists are being advised to use alternative routes.
McDonald's added the restaurant will remain closed for the foreseeable future.
