article_detail
Date Published: 20/06/2022
ARCHIVED - Extreme heat and decomposing waste gases spark blaze at Alicante recycling plant
Firefighters took almost four hours to bring the fire at the plant in Xixona, Alicante province, under control
Blistering temperatures combined with decomposing waste gases are believed to be behind a massive blaze at a recycling plant and landfill in Xixona, Alicante early Sunday morning, June 19.
The alarm was raised at 3.55am and raged out of control until almost 5.15am when fire crews managed to contain much of the blaze. But it wasn't unitl 7.25am when the "spectacular fire" was extinguished, according to Alicante Firefighters' Consortium, causing only material damage.
The origin of the fire was well inside the plant in an area surrounded by rubble and other waste, and once a team of six firefighters with two pumps had been able to control the flames, two plant employees set up backhoes by removing debris to allow the embers to cool down.
By 9am on Sunday, fire crews were dousing the plant to prevent further outbreaks.
"The remains at the plant accumulate high heat on the ground, which added to the high temperatures and decomposing gases generate the risk of the fire reactivating, so it is important to remove debris to prevent the embers concentrated in the same area reigniting," explained Alicante firefighters.
Image: Consorcio Bomberos Alicante
Loading
Sign up for the Spanish News Today Editors Roundup Weekly Bulletin and get an email with all the week’s news straight to your inbox
Special offer: Subscribe now for 25% off (36.95 euros for 48 Bulletins)
OR
you can sign up to our FREE weekly roundup!
Read some of our recent bulletins:
25% Discount Special Offer subscription:
36.95€ for 48 Editor’s Weekly News Roundup bulletins!
Please CLICK THE BUTTON to subscribe.
(List price 3 months 12 Bulletins)
Read more stories from around Spain:
Contact Spanish News Today: Editorial 966 260 896 /
Office 968 018 268