The HE Fire Brigade Consortium Valencia responded to a blaze in the industrial zone of l’Oliveral, near Riba-roja del Turia. The incident involved the Mercadona distribution depot in question, with the exact cause of the fire still under investigation at the time of reporting.
Five fire crews and three command units were deployed to the scene. The fire, which began shortly after 7:00 PM, also affected the dry food warehouse within the logistics block. Mercadona operates on this site, and company sources reported that the alarm systems activated immediately and functioned smoothly. Since the start of the incident, the evacuation of the entire workforce continued, with officials stating that there were no injuries to report.
The fire rapidly grew large enough to cast a dense black plume visible from several kilometers away. A company spokesperson expressed appreciation for the firefighters’ effective response and noted that most stores within the range were placed back into service after initial firefighting efforts, with a post-fire assessment planned once containment was achieved.
According to the mayor of Riba-roja, Robert Raga, there were no injuries, and firefighters were reported to be in full control of the situation. He added that the smoke released during the incident was non-toxic and did not cause casualties or poisonings. All indicators pointed toward containment of the fire in the short term.
Mercadona representatives, including Juan Roig, joined the effort by visiting the outskirts of the burning facility to monitor the development of events and oversee the preventive measures. Robert Raga also provided updates on the on-site response and ongoing containment efforts.
Caption: Rober Raga and Juan Roig at the scene during the fire
In 2018, a separate major fire destroyed a furnace on the same Mercadona site. The incident began at midnight in a furnace and spread to other facilities, resulting in the destruction of about 30,000 square meters on the Campo Anibal industrial site in Puçol. This historical event is recalled in the context of ongoing safety and risk considerations for the area.
Factory history
Mercadona has invested slightly more than 60 million euros in the optimization and modernization of the fresh goods warehouse within the Riba-Roja del Túria logistics block. The distribution operation started in the first half of 2023 and involved collaboration with more than 130 construction suppliers, employing roughly 800 people during the construction phase.
Planned changes target improvements in processes and facilities, as well as overall business efficiency. The warehouse size is set to expand from 23,000 square meters to 40,000 square meters, with upgrades to common areas and the introduction of an automated picking system known as the Picking Bridge Crane (PBC). The goal is to reduce unnecessary physical strain on workers while boosting productivity and output.
Additionally, 7,500 solar panels will be installed on the roof, aligning with the company’s environmental commitments. This upgrade is projected to supply about 15 percent of the facility’s total energy needs from renewable sources.
Caption: Fire at Mercadona warehouse in Riba-roja with photos
In another historical note, a separate furnace fire in 2018 at a Mercadona facility underscores ongoing safety considerations for the group’s industrial sites and the importance of robust emergency response plans in this sector.