A fire broke out yesterday at the GO telephone exchange in St Paul’s Bay at around 6.30pm.

Civil Protection Department personnel were called to the scene to extinguish the fire. One fireman required medical treatment as a result of smoke inhalation.

Preliminary investigations revealed that the fire broke out when a blaze in a nearby field was blown by the wind towards the telephone exchange, causing considerable damage.

Company sources told The Malta Independent last night that, as a precautionary measure, the power supply at the telephone exchange was interrupted. As a result, telephone and internet service for customers in the St Paul’s Bay and Qawra area, mainly those with telephone numbers starting with 2157 and 2158, suffered a temporary suspension of service.

The company will be keeping its customers updated with developments and regrets any inconvenience caused.