Un spectacular fire in a recycling warehouse from Alcalá de Henares On Monday, a huge plume of black smoke rose, visible from much of the municipality and even from the A-2 highway. The incident, which mobilized numerous emergency resources, originated in the Azque industrial park and kept workers and residents of the area on edge for hours.
Despite the spectacular nature of the fire and the large amount of material burning outside the facility, There were no serious injuries reportedEmergency services managed to control the situation, minimize damage to neighboring buildings, and prevent the flames from reaching a gas station located just a few meters away.
Where and how the fire started
The fire broke out around 13:30 p.m. this Monday in a warehouse dedicated to cardboard recycling, belonging to the Layna Group, located on Perú Street in the Azque industrial park in Alcalá de Henares. According to emergency services sources, the fire originated in the exterior of the industrial building, in an area where large piles of cardboard and pressed paper were stored, as well as other recyclable waste.
The rapid combustion of these highly flammable materials It immediately generated a thick plume of smoke, visible from various neighborhoods in Alcalá de Henares and from strategic points such as Torre Garena. Many drivers traveling on the A-2 noticed the column of black smoke, which contributed to the sense of alarm in the area.
The first warning calls came to the phone 112 of the Community of Madridwhich immediately activated a large-scale operation. From the outset, the focus was on halting the fire's advance onto the rest of the plot and protecting nearby facilities.
In this case, the internal structure of the ship was not seriously compromised. The flames were concentrated on the outsideconsuming large piles of cardboard, paper and other waste stored outdoors, which made it easier for firefighting teams to confine the fire to the perimeter of the plot.
Deployment of firefighters and emergency operations
They moved as far as Peru Street twelve teams of firefighters from the Community of Madrid, coming from various parks, including Alcalá de Henares and Coslada, in addition to the well-known 'tank' of Tres Cantos and different relays that were incorporated throughout the day and night.
Fire officer Guillermo Gosalbo explained that upon his arrival, The fire affected piles of plastics, cardboard, and other recyclable materials. located outside the building. The initial priority was to establish defensive lines to prevent the fire from spreading to an adjacent gas station and several nearby buildings, which were evacuated as a precaution.
According to the fire department commander, the operation focused on Protect the service station and evacuate up to six nearby buildingsOnce the people and the most sensitive infrastructure were secured, the teams focused on directly attacking the fires and confining them within the affected company's own property.
Emergency teams used abundant water and specific equipment for the refreshing the piles of pressed paper and cardboardThis is a particularly laborious task due to the ability of these materials to retain heat and reignite the flames hours later. Therefore, following security protocolsThe finishing work and removal of waste continued well into the afternoon.
Along with the firefighters, a medical team was deployed. summa 112with ambulances on standby, in addition to units from the Local Police of Alcalá de Henares, National Police and Civil Protection personnel, who were in charge of both perimeter security and logistical support.
Risk to a gas station and nearby buildings
One of the aspects that generated the most concern was the proximity of the fire to a gas station Located next to the Layna Group warehouse. The intense heat and the possibility that the flames could reach the fuel supply facilities forced firefighters to concentrate a large part of their efforts in this critical area.
The firefighting teams raised curtains of water and established specific protection lines for to prevent the fire from spreading to the service station. At the same time, several nearby businesses and industrial facilities were preventively evacuated, with the aim of minimizing the risk to workers and users of the industrial park.
Thanks to this quick and coordinated action, the firefighters were able to confine the fire within the plot itself and to control the spread of the flames before they reached particularly sensitive infrastructure. Emergency services sources emphasize that this response was key to preventing a more serious situation.
Despite the initial ferocity of the fire and the large column of smoke that rose over the city, There was no significant structural damage to the adjacent buildings.The effects were mainly concentrated on recycling materials stored outside the affected company.
The Local Police and the National Police established a security perimeter around the area, cutting off some access points to the industrial park and regulating traffic to facilitate the entry and exit of emergency vehicles and avoid incidents with onlookers who came to observe what had happened.
People affected, smoke and impact on the population
During the hours that the fire remained active, the The column of black smoke was visible from several kilometers away.This caused concern among residents of various neighborhoods in Alcalá. From homes, workplaces, and along roads, many people shared images of the event, reflecting the visual magnitude of the fire.
The Summa 112 health services maintained a preventive device in placeInitially, no serious injuries or cases of intoxication were reported, although one person was later treated for a... mild smoke poisoning, who was evaluated and discharged on site without the need for hospital transfer.
The authorities stressed the importance of keep a safe distance and follow the instructions of the emergency teams, both because of the danger of the fire and because of the presence of smoke and possible gases derived from the combustion of recycling materials.
These types of facilities typically handle large quantities of paper, cardboard, and plastics, as in the fire in YelesThese materials, in the event of a fire, generate very rapid combustion and large plumes of smoke. Therefore, emergency officials stressed the need to act with caution and avoid approaching the affected area.
In material terms, the accident caused the destruction of numerous piles of cardboard and pressed paper which were located in the warehouse's exterior yard. At the moment, the economic damages have not been quantified, although it is assumed that the company will face considerable losses in equipment and in the plant's normal operations.
The investigation of the causes and precedents within the same company
Once the fire was stabilized and the main hotspots were under control, the authorities began the work of investigation to determine the origin of the fireFor now, no official conclusions have been released and the possibility of different causes remains open, from a random accident to a failure in the handling or storage of the waste.
Fire technicians and fire investigation specialists will need to analyze the area where the fire startedThey are checking for potential ignition points and verifying if there were any elements that could have caused a spark or overheating. Recordings and witness statements are also being reviewed to reconstruct the first few minutes of the incident.
This new fire comes at a particularly delicate time for the affected company. The warehouse belongs to The Layna Group has already registered several fires., as happened in San Fernando de Henares in recent years in the Azque industrial park. Several previous incidents have required significant deployments of resources and have generated repeated concern among residents and workers in the area.
In previous episodes, such as the fire in Caldes de MontbuiThey have even burned large surfaces of plastics, wood and paperThe fire broke out both inside and outside the facility, requiring numerous fire crews and prolonged extinguishing and cooling operations. This incident has reignited the debate about storage conditions and safety at these types of recycling plants.
Local and regional authorities, along with emergency services, will re-analyze prevention and response protocols in the event of fires in recycling facilities, a sector that is especially sensitive due to the volume of combustible material it handles and its proximity to urban and industrial environments.
What happened at this recycling plant in Alcalá de Henares brings the issue back to the forefront. Importance of security in industrial parks where activities with high potential risk are concentrated. The coordinated action of firefighters, health services, and security forces made it possible to contain a very spectacular fire, prevent greater damage to the gas station and adjacent buildings, and minimize personal consequences, although the incident has once again left a strong impression on the city's residents.
