The fire at the Sant Antnin recycling plant is now out, and the cooling down process by the civil protection will now begin, according to the Ministry for Home Affairs and National Security.

According to a press release issued by the Ministry, the Department of Civil protection informed the Ministry that the fire has successfully been put out.

The CPD said that the operation consists of three phases. The first phase, which happened yesterday, makes sure that the fire is under control, "boxed in",  and does not expand.

According to the press release, the fire was kept like that for many hours yesterday.

The second phase, acknowledged as the most dangerous part, occurred throughout the night where members of civil protection "spent the night fighting with the fire and putting it out," the press release said, adding that this operation came to an end at 7 this morning.

The third phase, beginning now is called the 'cooling down' service. This consists of putting material in a particular way on the fire's 'hot spots', to make sure that everything is put out and there is no risk that material will rekindle, according to the press release. This phase is expected to go ahead throughout the day and evening, with the possibility of lasting a few days if the direction of the wind is not favourable.

This operation is done in shifts of 40-50 members of the Civil protection, with 9 Fire engines , using more than half a million litres of water, according to the press release, along with the participation of 60 volunteers from the department.

The press release reported that one of the volunteers hurt their hand and had to be taken to hospital. 

Photos: Michael Camilleri