Will Hutchinson says electrical fault likely caused Stardust fire

This report is a localnews.ie summary based on public court reporting and records; sources are listed below.

Fire investigator Dr Will Hutchinson told Dublin District Coroner’s Court on 29 January 2024 that an electrical fault in a hot press was a likely cause of the Stardust fire, which killed 48 people.

Hutchinson said defects in the hot press immersion unit’s wiring could have caused a fire that spread through the roof space and into the west alcove. He said he had identified no other evidence for a cause, while also considering accidental or deliberate ignition of a seat in the alcove as another possibility.

He also said the nightclub’s carpet tiles beneath a low ceiling contributed to the rapid spread, with heat and flaming material helping ignite seats. The inquest was continuing, and the report said it would resume the following day.