Two factories were gutted yesterday morning, after a fierce fire swept through a paint factory in the San Gwann industrial estate and then devastated another factory next door.

It took more than 100 members of the Civil Protection Department and countless fire engines several hours to extinguish the flames. The thick black smoke emitted by the fire could be seen from various localities around Malta. It was reported that the smoke could also be seen from Gozo.

The first fire broke out in the store of the Trimite paint factory at around 8.15am. Eyewitnesses who spoke to The Malta Independent said there was one worker inside the store at the time and a few other employees were outside off-loading some material. At one point they heard a loud explosion and saw a fire. They got hold of the fire extinguishers they had in the vicinity and tried to extinguish the blaze.

During these moments of panic, because they knew what devastation would follow if the fire spread, the employee who was originally in the store was injured while trying to run out. Medical sources said he suffered minor injuries caused by stones flying as a result of one of the many explosions. He had also suffered burns.

Unfortunately, the fire spread quickly, and within minutes had engulfed the store and begun spreading to the rest of the factory. The paint was emitting toxic fumes and small explosions were heard every time the flames reached another container of paint. Panic hit the firemen who were fighting the fire from Birkirkara Road, when a ball of flames shot out of the burning factory and landed underneath a fire engine.

Even this fire spread quickly, and within seconds flames were lining the road underneath two fire engines. Amid much shouting, the firemen whose hoses were directed towards the factory had to abandon the main fire for a few seconds and extinguish the fire in the road. At one point, the firemen also had to turn their hoses onto each other, after an explosion set their clothing on fire.

About an hour into the firemen’s attempts to put out the flames, more assistance arrived when the CPD were supplied with an undisclosed quantity of foam from the Malta International Airport fire station. However, sources said, it was useless using foam to try extinguish the fire because foam is generally used in an enclosed area, and by that time the factory walls had collapsed.

Up until 10 o’clock, the firemen had just one problem to deal with, but their day was soon to take a turn for the worse when the wall separating the Trimite paint

factory and the factory next door – Perfect Screen Printers Ltd – gave way and the fire spread into the second factory, which was also gutted.

The Civil Protection Department has an agreement with water suppliers in the event of an emergency and as a result, several water bowsers arrived on the scene to supply the CPD fire engines with more water.

Perfect Screen Printers managing director Frans Xuereb said all his equipment and stock were completely destroyed in the fire. Luckily, the administration building – containing computers and records – was not affected.

The situation at San Gwann industrial estate returned to normal at around 3pm, when the fire was finally declared under control. The area around the estate was cordoned off and staff were evacuated from their workplaces.

As a result of the toxic fumes which were being emitted because of the chemicals used in the production of the paint, Civil Protection Department director Peter Cordina, who was coordinating the operation, urged residents in the area to keep their windows closed. Also, as a precautionary measure, the Education Division ordered the evacuation of students in a number of schools, including those in San Gwann and Naxxar. These schools will be open as usual today.

Duty Magistrate Dr Joseph Cassar appointed several court experts to help him in the inquiry.