LATEST: Investigation continuing following fire that destroyed ambulance at Mayo hospital
Ambulance exploded while parked at Castlebar Ambulance Station, close to Sacred Heart Hospital
The Health Service Executive says investigations are ongoing after an Emergency Ambulance was destroyed following an explosion and fire at the weekend.
The incident happened on Friday night while the ambulance was parked at Castlebar Ambulance Station in Mayo, close to Sacred Heart Hospital.
The vehicle was completely destroyed and damage was also caused to a building adjacent to where the ambulance was parked, the HSE has said.
Footage and photographs of the incident have been widely shared on social media and on WhatsApp since the weekend.
Thankfully, the emergency vehicle was not in use at the time and no patients were affected. There were no injuries as a result of the incident, the HSE confirmed in a statement.
"An Garda Síochána and the fire service responded promptly to the incident, and gardaí are not treating the fire as suspicious," said a spokesperson who added that an examination is underway to establish the cause of the fire.
The Sacred Heart Hospital continues to function normally and National Ambulance Service services to the public are unaffected.
The National Ambulance Service says it is committed to taking all appropriate steps to ensure the continued safety and reliability of its fleet.
The exact cause of Friday night's explosion and fire are unknown.