Pula recycling center fire caused by thermal reaction in waste

A fire broke out at the Metis recycling center in the Šijana district of Pula, involving mixed waste including plastic and wood. Istrian police and fire inspectors determined the cause was a thermal reaction occurring within a pile of unsorted waste.

Emergency services, including firefighters from Pula and Medulin, worked to bring the blaze under control. The fire produced thick black smoke, prompting authorities to advise residents in Šijana, Veli Vrh, and Štinjan to stay indoors and keep windows closed. Pula Mayor Peđa Grbin stated that air quality monitoring indicated the smoke did not pose a significant health threat to citizens.

The Metis facility is majority-owned by the CIOS Group, owned by entrepreneur Petar Pripuz. This incident follows a history of reported fires at facilities associated with the group. In response to the recurring nature of such incidents, political figures have called for increased inspections of companies linked to Pripuz.