Three fire engines are on site to control a fire that broke out in a building under construction in Birkirkara Road, St Julian’s.

The police confirmed that a report of a fire was received at 3.50pm.

Civil Protection Department personnel were involved in controlling the blaze, with three fire engines responding to the report.

The building under construction is at the end of a narrow lane in Birkirkara Road which made the operation more difficult for the fire-fighters.

One man was seen being helped by the fire-fighters and an ambulance was also called on site.  Police on site later said that the man had suffered minor burns.  He was the only person treated for injuries at the site and was later taken to hospital via an ambulance.

Police on site also said that the fire seemed to have started in the site's garage, with fire-fighters suspecting that an electrical plug was to blame.  This however could not be confirmed at the time due to the volume of smoke being emitted by the fire.

At one point a fire-fighter was seen emerging from the site with a charrred gas cylinder in hand.  The cylinder was removed as a precaution after it was connected to a cooker in the vicinity of the fire. Water was thrown on the cylinder for it to be cooled.

Photos Alenka Falzon