Last Drop Chemicals fires put out this morning
Picture: Andrew Calleja - mynews@timesofmalta.com
Fire-fighters extinguished the last small fires at the Drop Chemicals factory in Mriehel this morning, nearly 24 hours after the factory was rocked by a series of explosions and a fierce blaze.
Practically nothing remains of the two-storey detergents factory other than a blackened shell which had been declared unsafe.
Investigations into the cause of the fire have now been taken in hand by court-appointed experts and the police.
The damage runs into hundreds of thousands of euro.
CPD director Patrick Murgo said firefighters stayed on the site overnight as small fires which could not be easily reached continued to blaze.
Around 120 people took part in the operation including CPD fire fighters, CPD volunteers and members of other organisations including the Emergency Fire Rescue Unit and the St John Rescue Corps. CPD personnel who were on leave were called in to man the CPD's other stations.
Enemalta and Alf. Mizzi and Sons also provided their own fire engines, the Resources Ministry made water bowsers available.
Referring to criticism that some of the CPD personnel were not wearing breathing equipment during the operation, Mr Murgo said that the fire fighters who needed this equipment used it. Others were in an upwind location and did not require it.
Footage on the youtube video shows one the explosions at the factory.
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6 Comments
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William Attard McCarthy
Apr 13th 2011, 22:28
Whilst I would like to congratulate those brave men and women from various Firefighting Depts around the island, on the other hand I am quite baffled by Mr. Murgo's comments vis-a-vis the various online critique regarding the use of (or rather, lack of) Breathing Apparatus.
The two tower-ladder 2-man teams were constantly those closest to the fumes. While the fumes were downwind from them most of the time, there were times when the wind suddenly changed direction and engulfed both teams in a thick blanket of smoke for quite a couple of minutes each time. As one can see in the photos below, this was quite enough to cover their shiny helmets in a thick blanket of soot... one wonders what effect it had on their respiratory system. Yes, they did have fireproof balaclavas...but this is not enough in such instances.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/william_attard_mccarthy/5616779211/in/photostream
http://www.flickr.com/photos/william_attard_mccarthy/5616778881/in/photostream
http://www.flickr.com/photos/william_attard_mccarthy/5616778487/in/photostream
Mr C Tanti
Apr 13th 2011, 19:14
Mr J Borg, the liquid that the factory pumped out contained water that the firemen used to kill the fire and detergent hence the green colour. I must also add to this that the detergent is biodegradable and nature-friendly. As for the foul smell, what do you expect? As the fire dies down, the smoke it has caused will disperse leaving behind dregs of quickly cooling particles which is commonly referred to as soot. This soot coats all it communicates with also resulting in the stink to adhere to everything as well.
Mr J Borg
Apr 13th 2011, 14:56
What a country. Drop chemicals are emptying the garage from a foul smelling chemical filled liquid of a green colour. Instead of collecting this toxic liquied in bowsers they are dumping it in the street! So much for the health warnings yesterday, straight to the water table. And the police just look on and do not stop them!!!
Mr C Tanti
Apr 13th 2011, 19:36
The green liquid that the company was removing from the garage after yesterdays tragedy is not toxic. How can you say it is toxic, have you checked yourself? The factory contained no toxic chemicals, hence the liquid cannot be toxic. The green liquid contained water, from all the water that the firemen used to kill the fire and obviously detergent. The detergent is biodegradable and nature friendly, and up to all standards. As for the foul smell, what do you expect? The liquid came from inside the factory which is full of soot. The foul smell of soot adheres to everything as you know. What a country indeed with people like you.
Mr Edward Vella
Apr 13th 2011, 14:00
At least no one was hurt
Mr Nigel Bruno
Apr 13th 2011, 13:36
Well done to all my colleagues involved...