Weekend blaze at Orihuela-Almoradí scrapyard finally under control

Large-scale emergency response was activated due to the intensity of the fire and the proximity to a local hospital

The fire that tore through the Desguaces Mora scrapyard in Benejúzar over the weekend was finally declared fully extinguished on Monday morning, May 4, following a major weekend operation.

The alarm was raised at 3:52pm on Saturday May 2, when flames broke out in the outdoor storage area of the scrapyard, where vehicles and materials were being kept. The fire did not start inside the main building, but in the external yard, where it quickly gained intensity and produced a thick column of black smoke visible across much of the Vega Baja region.

The plume of smoke caused concern among nearby residents and drivers, especially given the site's proximity, around 400 metres, to the Vega Baja Regional Hospital in San Bartolomé.

Fire crews from Orihuela and Almoradí were immediately deployed, supported by the Southern Area duty officer of the Alicante Provincial Fire Consortium. The response included multiple heavy urban pump engines, a water tanker truck, and command units, with additional water supply units brought in from other stations to maintain pressure and control the spread.

Given the scale of the fire and the nature of the materials stored at the site, emergency services also worked to secure surrounding areas and make sure nearby hydrants were available for continuous firefighting operations. The Guardia Civil from Jacarilla, along with local police from Benejúzar and Orihuela, were also deployed as the fire's location was near local towns.

Despite the dramatic appearance of the fire, authorities confirmed that no injuries were reported.

As the fire developed, crews were able to divide the site into sections and contain the affected areas, bringing the situation under control after the initial outbreak. Firefighters then remained on site overnight carrying out cooling and monitoring work to prevent any re-ignition.

By 8:30am on Monday, the blaze was officially declared fully extinguished.

The cause of the fire has not yet been determined. Authorities have confirmed that investigations will continue, especially given that the scrapyard has experienced fires in the past, which raises questions about the vulnerability of the site itself.

Image: Vicente Cases Sanz, Mayor of Benejúzar