Both Malta and Gozo saw a series of fires erupt over the weekend, including in Dwejra, Malta, Għaxaq, and Mġarr Harbour, Gozo. Referring to the Mġarr Harbour fire, the man said the Għasri fire was “much larger”.

However, even more problematic was the fact that lack of access meant emergency responders found major challenges to respond to the fires in nearly all cases.

The lack of access for emergency responders had even led to the Miżieb woodlands burning for days in 2019 as firefighters just couldn’t reach the core of the fire. Natural land covering over 20 times the size of the Fosos in Floriana was lost in this blaze.

“The impaired access left people lacking assistance and the brigade claiming they cannot access due to the perilous state of the road. Although emergency numbers had been called and the authorities called, on the ground the engines could not access and direct the raging fire since it was impossible for the engine to pass the narrow road,” the man said, referring to ongoing roadworks at Triq il-Lanterna.

“The fire even crawled near to a couple of farmhouses in the vicinities, but I don’t know whether any damage was involved.”

He urged authorities to ensure that emergency access is viable at all times. 

“Should there have been personal injury and medical team required this would have been impossible to obtain as well,” he warned.

Għasri mayor Daniel Attard said that the fires were a “normal event” that farmers prepare for each year as the temperature increases and the fields get drier.

“It’s a natural cycle. In order to have no bush fires, there must be no bush in the first place. Thankfully, we still have our natural environment.”

Do you think more needs to be done to prevent bush fires across Malta during the summer months?