Update 3: Huge fire spreads to chemical tanks in San Gwann

Giov DeMartino

Jun 20th 2012, 14:51

Taraw kemm kelli ragun jien meta ghedt li ahna, inkluz jien, naturalment, professuri ta' kollox?
Trid tizbor sigra, trid titfi n-nar, trid issalva z-zwieg, trid tigbed lura n-nies lejn il-knisja, trid tmexxi pajjiz u tirbah elezzjoni, trid taqta kawza u taghti sentenza gusta, trid tixtri zejt bl-irhis, trid trahhas il-hajja, trid izzid limpjiegi, trid iggib izjed turisti, trid tehles mill-klandestini bla ma tgharraqhom, trid izzid il-pagi u fl-istess hin trahhas it-taxxi.........nahseb dejjaqtkom

Anthony A. Mifsud

Jun 19th 2012, 16:45

Was this a training drill, as I can only comment on what TOM show on the clip,
My training goes back years and my HSE are fresh
I do share that the Fireman have the courage, to serve and protect.
But we lack in all aspects, looking at that Fire man up wind some two meters away from the fire, is that first class fire fighting? back up crew, spectators in all ways , just imagine there had been a cylinder of any propain, I will noy write the consequencees.
Ninu

Christine Watson

Jun 19th 2012, 13:58

Yes, anyone who makes the choice to join the fire service takes a risk with their job everyday. It is their choice so arrive with some urgency. What if a member of the public loses their life with delays like this?

Maria Azzopardi

Jun 19th 2012, 12:49

From the point of view of a fireman's daughter, I think some people should take a moment to appreciate the firemen's courage and respect they have towards our country and it's people. Knowing all the risks that my father and his colleagues are taking, I really think that some of you should stop complaining and appreciate the fact that they are risking their lives everyday :)

J Cassar

Jun 19th 2012, 08:24

Calls were made at 3.30pm! The fire brigade turned up a little before 6pm! What a shocking display of emergency action! WHEN they finally arrived, the water poured out of what seemed an empty tank it was dripping out of the hoses so slowly! EMERGENCY means pronto! THis is Malta where it takes a max of 45 to arrive at a destination and im talking Valletta to Mellieha not central locality SAN GWANN! So much could have been avoided if these people acted like they should have! Good job we're no NYC!!

James Tyrrell

Jun 19th 2012, 01:48

Whilst I can understand watering down adjoining fields and buildings I can't see the point in directing water into the flames of a fire. When I was doing fire drill years ago I remember being taught to direct the water at the base of the fire not into the flames.

P Caruana

Jun 19th 2012, 00:48

@ Mr. Eric Camilleri,

Please note that the CPD hardly have enough fire engines to work with and the few remaining are on the verge of breaking down, and fire fighters are under numbered by around 200 firemen.

Let alone the government giving funds for a helicopter ??

The police just spent 1.5 Million Euros on new mobile unit cars, the AFM just bought a new fleet of Landrovers a few years ago. Yes I agree, very important tools for all of us BUT WHY IS IT SO DIFFICULT FOR THE GOVERNMENT TO SPEND MONEY ON CPD EQUIPMENT ????? the last brand new fire engines that the CPD got was under the Italian protocol over 12 years ago. unbelievable but true.

WELL DONE CPD OFFICERS, FIRE FIGHTERS BOTH REGULAR AND VOLUNTEERS FOR THE EXCELLENT JOB YOU MANAGE TO DO WITH THE LITTLE YOU HAVE AVAILABLE.

GOD BLESS YOU ALL AND YOUR FAMILIES

Kenneth Galea

Jun 18th 2012, 21:54

The small grass fire was started certainly by the immense heat. This summer is going to go down in history as the hottest and longest. Anyway this is hell on earth and not summer. And those who were moaning about the bit of rain we got in Winter now you are getting a taste of no rain at all, everything is wilthing away and a brutal summer. I hope that those who moaned about the Winter are finding this immense heat unbearable. Paroli u kummiedji ghandna kemm trid,

Schembri Ray

Jun 18th 2012, 21:35

Fields unattended should be given to public to enjoy

Eric Camilleri (Q)

Jun 18th 2012, 21:07

Should the CPD invest in a helicopter operated water bucket ? My understanding is that fires of this intensity are difficult to dominate and the best technique is to let the fire consume itself. The water hoses as shown in the clip did not seem too effective in trying to suppress the fire, this considering the burning medium and heat. Fortunately the fire was contained in a specific area thanks to CPD's intervention however wind intensity and direction could have caused havoc to surrounding buildings and property, with all probability spreading fires to larger areas. This is where a water bucket could have come into play to try to suppress the fire as quickly as possible. Malta is small (flight wise) and surrounded by sea.

A few examples of what I am referring to :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8H2z3gq4O68
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helicopter_bucket

Stephen Florian

Jun 18th 2012, 20:27

Never throw any water filled plastic or glass bottles into the fields. The water in them acts as a lens and can start a fire.

rene savona ventura

Jun 18th 2012, 19:23

Living just a few meters away I can confirm the explosion. Some weeks ago we even experienced toxic smell around Ta' Zwejt area, which we filed a report to the Police. The smell was so irritating that we had to keep our windows closed.

Pule' Carmel

Jun 18th 2012, 19:22

I live at Kalkara and about a week ago I had to call the police who then called the fire engine to put out this field fire. But what I find interesting that almost once a week I smell burning outside our home and though I do not want to point fingers, I do notice that some people have got fireplaces whose chimney is not long enough and the Bernouli Effect of wind through a narrow street cause a low pressure and so smoke is sucked into the street affecting nearby residential homes. Are there any laws as to the length of chimneys with respect to nearby building? for some chimney stacks are really short and their smoke is sucked down rather than carried away without affecting the neighbourhood.
Thanks to the firemen who responded so quickly last week.

Nadya Cassar

Jun 18th 2012, 19:01

Well said..and the risks they take.

Vincent Galea

Jun 18th 2012, 18:57

Let us show our appreciation to the fire fighters.
Let us thank them for the valuable service they provide and letting them know that we are very aware of the significant positive impact they have on our communities.
Fire fighters make an incredible difference in our lives - so let us make a difference in theirs.

Karl Consiglio

Jun 18th 2012, 18:46

So far everything's been Ok in Sliema

DR EMMANUEL BEZZINA,MA,MAG.JUR.[EU Law],LL.D.,

Jun 18th 2012, 18:43

The innocent victims must always be victimised at the expense of the irresponsible transgressor: in this case the residents...................now will the people be told whose responsibility it was and get the individual / s responsible to Court in the same speed as we did with the Briton who allegedly mowed down the quadribike rider recently ?

However same goes with alcoholics and smokers...............will we take these social nuisances to Court for causing irritrievable harm with long term consequences, most of the time life time consequences, to their victims ??? And so many similar examples & illustrations : whoever stated we conform with the definition of a Banana Republic ?

S. Azzopardi

Jun 18th 2012, 18:42

Just been there. It looks pretty bad.

Jen Fenech

Jun 18th 2012, 18:26

it's true, in Ta' Paris there is the smell of smoke. I really hope they don't have a lot of damage and that no one was hurt.

J. Vella

Jun 18th 2012, 18:25

Must be a very large fire, I could see the smoke very clearly from my back terrace in Nadur. Hope that none of the firemen get hurt.

Joe Galea

Jun 18th 2012, 18:16

Mur ara x'sejrin taghmlu mela la taqa l-kometa lejn l-ahhar ta 2012 kif inhu mhabbar.

Mr Michael Debono

Jun 18th 2012, 18:15

A small fire that developed into a huge fire of dangerous materials such as acetylene. Since it is recognised that a small fire was near a factory the position was dangerous immediately the fire was deducted and precautions taken instantly. Look at the result!

Nadya Cassar

Jun 18th 2012, 18:12

Not only must we exaggerate but please people living in the vicinity do close your windows as a precaution
...

Johnny England

Jun 18th 2012, 18:10

@Neville Refalo

Don't try to be an expert. This is serious stuff. Its true that you don't smell it but what goes up must come down and in the next few hours possible carcinogenic particles will fall down on our houses and families.

Hope someone gets the blame, and a hash one.

Franco Farrugia

Jun 18th 2012, 18:06

Rather than scribbling nonsensical comments, we should think of the courage of the firemen and the officers during this difficult operation.

Benjamin Darmanin

Jun 18th 2012, 18:03

Sorry guys but some of you amaze me.... "Who is protecting residents from harm?".....I mean it's not like they can flick their fingers and remove the fire.

F Rattray

Jun 18th 2012, 18:02

this fire looks huge all you can see from sliema is the smoke slowly moving over valletta :/

N.J Cini

Jun 18th 2012, 17:53

I saw it from Gozo!

Louis Gatt

Jun 18th 2012, 17:49

The air is full of smoke ať B'kara. It smells and chokes. Who is protecting residents from harm. There's no place at San Gwann for chemical factories...so close to residential areas and Mater Dei. These places don't go together.

Bernard Pollacco

Jun 18th 2012, 17:39

tort l-gvern !!! (im not serious btw just want to start the chorus)

Michael Camileri

Jun 18th 2012, 17:21

Should we be concerned about the errrrm chemicals?

Mark Demicoli

Jun 18th 2012, 17:16

it can be seen from Luqa!

Darren Chetcuti Vella

Jun 18th 2012, 17:14

San Gwann right now - air pollution galore! Local council and resident associations please take note. Perhaps this should serve as a wake up call to clean up our locality and ensure health and safety regulations around the industrial estate are adhered to. Residential areas are very close to the site.