Tuesday, 22nd December 2009 - 19:15CET

Fire damages Paola house

Video: Mark Zammit Cordina.

An elderly woman escaped injury this evening when the ground floor of her house in Carmel Street, Paola, caught fire.

Informed sources said a mattress caught fire and the flames spread quickly to other parts of the house owing to a large quantity of old clothes and other material in the rooms.

Two fire engines of the Civil Protection Department were on the scene and the firemen managed to control the blaze.

The fire is thought to have started from a candle which the woman uses instead of electricity.

Next article • GWU says government discussing tariffs with employers behind its back

Article © Allied Newspapers Ltd., printed on Monday, September 6, 2010. This article is for personal use only, and should not be distributed.

Comments

Allen Galea(on 23/12/09)

@Michael Vella
A brief look beyond our shores shows me that we have the highest tariffs in all Europe!! (Not to mention below average wages). The fact remains that we're paying for the negligence and incompetence of enemalta. Our tariffs have never reflected the price of oil. When oil prices went up, tariffs went up, when oil prices went down, tariffs stayed the same!! I just hope this lady was not seriously injured and wish her all the best!

C. Busuttil(on 23/12/09)

@ c. camilleri

I tend to agree with your line of argument that no future administration will ever retract from present position and reinstate previous tariffs, it is now impossible without the Government absorbing a high fraction of the cost, and as we well know that is not possible now that we are an EU State.

My only hope is that in the eventuality of a change in administration, you and all those adhering to such philosophy will keep constant to present affirmations as otherwise it shall be a case of changing goalposts.

marthese mussett(on 22/12/09)

It has nothing to do with new tariffs.Some people use scented candles to create a calming atmosphere in the home,and some people light a candle infront of a holy picture.If you re not careful,these things could all cause a fire.Even if somebody smokes in bed and dozes off...we have to be very careful...we had a fire once because I put a towel next to a halogen heater...and it caught fire.We have to be careful so we prevent these things from happening,especially if there s a gas heater in the house.

smifsud(on 22/12/09)

i agree with Martin Saliba ...and those who dont must be well to do ...its a pity the rich dont get it and they never will as they are to shallow and vain to do so ....

Gareth Buttigieg(on 22/12/09)

Instead of the non sensical comments about high tariffs, it would have been much more useful should readers post on how they might be of assistance to this elderly lady who will have to pass xmas living in a place that has been gutted with fire - leave politics aside for once and get a life or is it all that this blog is here for???

Michael A. Vella(on 22/12/09)

Martin Saliba - Such comments only serve to highlight the Lilliputian mentality that is fed and fostered by the PL. A brief look beyond our shores should cause you and your ilk to thank goodness that W&E tariffs are your major worry. As to the huge monetary figures and substantial percentages bellyached about by GRTU, the Euro 34,500,00 that is said will be paid out by 42,000 businesses works out at just over Euro 800.00 or Euro 2.30 each working day per business. After taking into account that 35% of that would go to CIR anyway the nett extra charge is Euro 1.50 daily.

Any business that would go bust if faced with such a piddling additional charge is in serious trouble already. So stop contemplating your navel. There is a wide and interesting world out there.

Claire Busuttil(on 22/12/09)

OMG!!!! ara fl liema stat ergajna gejna!

C Falzon(on 22/12/09)

Curiosly, lighting with candles actually works out much more expensive than with electricity, even with the rates as high as they are.
A 1 watt lamp used 8 hours a day would cost you just 2 euros in a whole year and would make about as mmuch light as a candle. I don't think 2 euros worth of candles would last very long.

Ian Cilia(on 22/12/09)

@Martin
Don't be silly Martin... next thing if 2012 does happen it will all be Gonzi's fault...

c. camilleri(on 22/12/09)

Martin Salib. High tariffs have come to stay so long as the price of our imports remain high. No Govt, Nats or Labour can solve this problem.We have to learn to live with it. It is useless to put blame on the Govt that has done enough to excuse those in the lower brackets from paying the high tariffs and this includes includes this elderly lady.

Marthese Psaila(on 22/12/09)

oohhh pleeeease !!! somehow politics is always to blame

martin saliba (on 22/12/09)

Another consequence of high tariffs.