Firefighters faced a demanding blaze this Monday as they worked to halt a rapid spread that began at a pallet factory in the hamlet of Encebra, within the Pine municipality of Alicante. Initial information from the Alicante Provincial Firefighters Consortium indicated the fire started around 18:20 inside the wood pallet facility at Sonca village and quickly extended to nearby pine forest areas. The swift escalation triggered a coordinated response to contain the flames and shield surrounding structures and natural drainage routes that could carry embers farther afield.
The operation drew support from several agencies and extensive equipment. Units from Diputación firefighters arrived to strengthen the scene, aided by a headquarters command unit that helped establish an incident command post. The assault involved two heavy rural pumps and a main heavy pump stationed at Elda park, supported by a sergeant, a corporal, and a three-person firefighter team, all contributing to on-the-ground containment efforts. Aerial assistance arrived with a directional helicopter and a water-carrying AT-50 aircraft, delivering vital supplemental water and enabling safer access for ground crews in hard-to-reach sectors. Additional forest firefighting units connected with the Generalitat joined the operation to manage the forested margins of the affected area, expanding the fleet and manpower dedicated to preventing rekindling or spread beyond control.
Images from the scene show the pallet factory consumed by smoke and flame as responders work to keep the blaze from breaching the perimeter. Local authorities stressed that weather conditions and the abundance of wooden materials intensified the fire, requiring a careful blend of aggressive suppression and strategic cooling to prevent the fire from reaching adjacent properties and forest stands (Fire Authority).
There were no injuries reported among the responders, and the incident was described as fully contained within the facility’s footprint as firefighting teams continued mop-up and secured hot spots. The operation within the factory involved sealing all major openings to prevent rekindling, while crews cleared cracked machinery and tools to lower the risk of flare-ups (Fire Authority). By roughly 20:52, crews confirmed the extinction of active flames inside the structure, marking a pivotal turning point and allowing teams to shift to thorough cooling and post-fire assessment. Local residents were advised to stay vigilant in the surrounding areas to avoid smoke exposure and potential debris as cleanup proceeded, and investigators began assessing the cause to determine whether material or equipment failures contributed to the start of the fire (Investigation Office). Information from the fire authority indicated ongoing monitoring of the site to ensure no concealed pockets ignite in the coming hours and days. The coordinated response demonstrated a multi-agency approach aimed at protecting a rural economy dependent on small-scale manufacturing and timber resources, while preserving ecological integrity along the forest edges that border the industrial site (Public Safety Office).