Thick black smoke hung over Pula's Šijana district on Monday after a fire broke out at the Metrec recycling centre. The Istria County Police received a report of the fire at 18:40, with the blaze engulfing mixed waste, primarily plastic waste.
Around two dozen firefighters with nine vehicles were on the scene. The operation involved firefighters from the Pula Public Fire Department and the Pula and Medulin volunteer fire brigades, with METEC staff also assisting in the firefighting efforts. The operation was directed by the commander of the PVA, Ivica Rojnić. The firefighters brought the blaze under control in a short time, and according to available information, there was no danger to people or property.
The traffic police closed a section of Valica Street to allow the firefighters to extinguish the fire without hindrance. The police and the fire brigade asked residents of the local communities of Šijana, Veli Vrh, and Štinjan to stay in their homes and keep their windows closed due to the thick smoke.
There were no injuries in the fire, but according to residents, there were injuries. Residents also reported that a very unpleasant smell was spreading through the area, and explosions were heard. Pula's mayor, Peđa Grbin, was at the scene.
There is currently no further information on what caused the fire. At least four fires have been recorded at the Metrec recycling centre in Pula between 2019 and 2024.
