BREAKING: Kildare gardaí and firefighters are at the scene of a blaze impacting two houses

Emergency services personnel are tonight at the scene of a dramatic fire at a mature residential setting in Newbridge.

About half a dozen Kildare Fire Service vehicles, including  fire tenders and water tankers have been deployed to the scene to tackle the fire at Páirc Mhuire.

Firemen worked to bring the blaze under control at a semi detached dwelling in the estate, which is close to Henry Street and a short distance from the town centre. The Whitewater Shopping Centre is located across the main thoroughfare. It's thought the fire started shortly before 10 o'clock

Thick black smoke billowed from some of the windows of the house, flames were visible and there was evident damage to guttering, windows and doors. It was clear that the property was extensively damaged.

The firefighters battled to prevent an adjacent semi detached property also going up in flames though it was apparent that some damage had also been caused to this premises.

A line of trees separating the homes caught fire during the incident.

There was a significant garda presence in the immediate area. At least six personnel were working at the scene and the road passing through the estate was closed off by gardaí as the firefighting operation got underway.

The route is a busy one and is the main artery into the town from the Highfield, Dara Park and Lakeside Park estates.

Neighbours and residents gathered outside the houses a safe distance away and they were ushered away from the scene and towards the town by the gardaí. One onlooker reported hearing a "pop" noise before the firefighters got there.

It was not immediately clear if anyone was injured in the incident.