[WATCH] Large fire in Lija scrapyard put out

Fire in Lija

A scrapyard fire near Lija produced large plumes of smoke that engulfed the centre of the island.

The yard is just behind the Subaru showroom and the incident is said to have occured at around 2.15pm. It is believed that at least 15 cars were destroyed by the fire, whilst some 20 others were 'saved', one source said.

Fireman Raymond Galea (right) was one of the first on the scene. Here he is seen being assisted by Dr Jonathan Joslyn, a volunteer with the Civil Protection Department (left), after feeling faint. The carbon monoxide monitor screens the amount of carbon dioxide in the air, level of oxygen and pulse rate.

Fireman Raymond Galea suffered from heat exhaustion

It took the CPD an hour to put out the fire

At least 15 cars wered damaged in the fire

The fire raged on behind the Subaru showroom

In fact, a nearby car dealer, Dino's, was ordered to remove his vehicles from the adjacent site, as a precaution to minimise the chances of the fire spreading.

Police are currently on site whilst three fire engines - and 14 CPD personnel - have now been controlling the fire for over an hour.

According to Natalino Bezzina, a CPD manager, the wind helped to spread the fire throughout the scrap yard. He said that the quick calls that came in helped the CPD to control it. He added that the fire hadn't spread to other sites and no one was injured.

Meanwhile, Police Sergeant Oriana Spiteri said that the police were contacted at around 2:30pm. "It is too early to say what caused the fire," Spiteri said when asked whether the Police were suspecting arson.

She was accompanied by PC 423 Victor Ciantar and Inspector Priscilla Caruana. A Magisterial inquiry will be held.