No injuries were reported as a result of the blaze. Credit: Bomberos Alicante
A fire that broke out on Thursday November 13 at the Marina Baixa Hospital expansion works in Villajoyosa caused a dense column of black smoke visible from several parts of the region.
Emergency services received the alert at 9.13am, prompting the Provincial Fire Consortium of Alicante to deploy a Command and Headquarters Unit, a Heavy Urban Pump, a Heavy Water Tanker, and a Multi-purpose Transport Van. The response team included a sergeant, a corporal, and seven firefighters from the Benidorm and San Vicente stations.
Blaze contained to basement area
Fire service sources confirmed that no injuries were reported as a result of the blaze, which originated in the basement of the construction site. The flames affected building materials and machinery being used for the ongoing expansion project.
Firefighters reported that the situation quickly came under control, with flames limited to the basement area. The once-prominent smoke column visible across Villajoyosa gradually diminished as the extinguishing efforts progressed.
Precautionary measures in place
As a precaution, two Basic Life Support units (SVB) were stationed near the site, though no medical assistance was required.
Local authorities confirmed that the fire did not spread to the hospital’s main building, and patient care remained unaffected. Finestrat’s mayor, Juanfran Pérez Llorca, visited the site alongside the mayors of Villajoyosa and Benidorm to assess the situation and thank emergency teams for their swift response.
Authorities praise rapid coordination
Personnel from Bombers d’Alacant continued to inspect the affected area to rule out any remaining hotspots, while the Local Police, Guardia Civil, and hospital staff ensured the premises remained secure.
Hospital management praised the rapid coordination between all emergency units, noting that the expansion works will resume once the affected areas have been fully ventilated and reviewed for safety.
Fire fully extinguished
The fire was officially declared extinguished at 11.25am.
Alicante’s provincial firefighters have faced an intense week of mountain rescues and road emergencies across the province, with several people injured and one fatality reported. On Sunday November 9, rescue teams were deployed to Peñón de la Lobera after receiving an alert regarding a French hiker in his seventies who was believed to have suffered a fractured ankle.
Firefighters accessed the injured man using a rescue harness and winched him into the provincial rescue helicopter. He was flown to the San Vicente station, where he was transferred to a Basic Life Support ambulance for further treatment. Fire crews wished him a swift recovery.