Firemen early on Thursday extinguished a blaze in the foyer of the Eden Cinemas complex in Paceville. No serious damage was caused and no one was injured. 

The fire, at about 8am, produced a thick plume of smoke.

Emanuel Psaila, director of the Civil Protection Department said four fire engines, 10 fire-fighters and two officers were deployed. The blaze most probably started from an electrical fault in a fridge.

Firemen were seen entering the premises wearing breathing equipment amid the black smoke.

The street in front of the complex was closed. The fire was brought under control in about an hour but the fire-fighting operation is expected to continue for much of the morning for safety reasons, Psaila said. 

Simon Decesare, CEO of the Eden Leisure Group said the cleaners had heard the fire alarms go off early in the morning. 

"We called the CPD. They came inspected, said it was probably some residual smoke. But then we had to call them back in an hour and a half when we saw the smoke increase. 

Two days ago a fire broke out in a kitchen at the adjacent bowling alley and was quickly extinguished. 

Photo by Jonathan Borg

Another fire at Ta' Giorni

Early on Thursday firemen were also called to fight a fire in Lapsi Street, Ta' Giorni. 

The blaze is believed to have started from an electrical switchboard and spread to a store. No one was hurt.