What We Know so Far About the Valencia Apartment Block Fire

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• What We Know so Far About the Valencia Apartment Block Fire

23 February 2024 | Updated 27 February 2024

Emergency services have attended the scene of a fire at a high-rise apartment complex in Valencia, Spain 

The fire occurred on Thursday 22 February at a 14-storey block in the Campanar neighbourhood, at the intersection of Maestro Rodrigo and Poeta Rafael Alberti avenues. It also spread to adjoining buildings.

Over twenty fire crews used cranes to rescue residents from balconies. Police reports confirm that at least ten people have died.

The cause of the fire is unknown currently, but it has been reported that it started on the seventh floor and spread quickly.

Why did the Fire Spread so Quickly?

Many have speculated that the façade of the building may be responsible for the fast spread of the fire, reminiscent of the Grenfell Tower fire in 2017.

Esther Puchades, Vice President of the College of Industrial Technical Engineers of Valencia has previously inspected the building and told news agency Efe that the aluminium plates of the façade were coated with flammable polyurethane.

Strong winds on the day of the fire are also thought to have contributed.

How old is the Building?

According to Spanish daily newspaper El Pais, the apartment block was built in 2018. It is thought that there are more than 130 flats in the building.

Editor’s note: this is a developing news story with all information correct at the time of publication 

Picture: a photograph of a set of lockers, with firefighting protective equipment hanging inside them. Protective headwear can be seen on top of the lockers. Image Credit: Unsplash

Article written by Ella Tansley | Published 23 February 2024

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