WATCH | Wasteserv release video showing rapid spread of landfill fire

A flash fire spread within seconds through a section of WasteServ’s Magħtab landfill on Wednesday after a strong vortex of air fuelled the blaze.

The fire broke out in a contained area of the facility shortly after 11:30am, with CCTV footage released by WasteServ showing how rapidly the flames developed.

In a statement, WasteServ said the fire was brought under control within a short time through the coordinated response of members of the Civil Protection Department and WasteServ employees.

However, firefighters remained on site until the early hours of Wednesday morning as strong winds and constantly changing wind directions continued to hamper operations. The affected area was eventually covered with graded inert material to fully contain the incident.

No employees were injured in the fire and no damage was caused to WasteServ’s waste processing facilities, the company said.

The affected area was secured and monitored throughout the incident and in the hours that followed.

WasteServ thanked Civil Protection Department responders for their “rapid and professional response”, as well as contractors who supplied requested materials and employees who assisted during the incident.

The company said the incident underscored the importance of proper waste disposal practices, warning flammable materials such as batteries should never be discarded in black bags, even when small.

It also described the fire as “a stark reminder” of the need to move away from landfilling.