TIRANA, August 27 – About 100 employees and 15 fire engines were engaged in extinguishing the fire at the landfill near the Elbasan incinerator, a fire that appeared at around 17:45 on Saturday and reached large proportions, helped by the strong wind and high temperatures.
After about 4-5 hours of fighting the flames, army forces and firefighters from Elbasan, Tirana, Durrës, Belsh, Gramsh, Cerrik and Peqin managed to bring the flames under control.
“At the moment we arrived, there was also a wind, since the facility is on the edge of the Shkumbin river, there was a wind that greatly favored it. Even the great drought, the high temperature took their toll and this was immediate,” said Tajar Alla, Chief of the Elbasan Fire Service.
The Elbasan fire brigade teams continue to stay at the landfill to prevent any possible reactivation of the fire, while the entire surface is being covered with inert materials to minimize any possibility of the fire reappearing.
“The cause – intentional fire cannot be ruled out,” Alla said.
In its official reaction, the Municipality of Elbasan said that the main suspicions are of an intentional fire for which the police and prosecution bodies are investigating.
Meanwhile, by order of the Minister of the Interior the Elbasan plant is being guarded by the state and municipal police. /argumentum.al
