Residents in Cospicua woke up to find themselves enveloped in thick black smoke yesterday when a fierce fire engulfed a Nissen hut in the area, requiring the entire assets of the fire department to control the flames.

The hut, which contained a truck, a number of 45-litre barrels of ink and some oils, was completely destroyed by the blaze.

The Civil Protection Department was informed about the fire at 6.15 a.m. but residents said they had seen smoke as early at 5.30 a.m., CPD director Patrick Murgo said.

It took the CPD close to three hours to extinguish the flames. Smoke could be seen from various parts of the island.

Mr Murgo said that at one point all fire stations in Malta were closed with all the department’s assets deployed on site. There were 10 fire engines and four private water bowsers commissioned by the CPD provided more water that was needed to control the fire.

He said that since adjacent Nissen huts contained gas tanks and furniture, the CPD created water curtains on each side of the burning hut to prevent the fire from spreading. Fire fighters extinguished the fire using foam.

No one was injured.

Sources said the fire was “most likely” caused by an electrical fault.