undamaged
A refrigerated truck in a large size caught fire early this morning on highway A-31, near the municipality of Novelda, at the 213th kilometer toward Madrid. The incident briefly interrupted traffic on the route, but there were no reported arrests or detentions. Rescue teams from the Civil Traffic Guards and the Provincial Firefighters Consortium confirmed that traffic was light at the time, which helped minimize the impact on the flow of vehicles. The event appears to have begun shortly after 1 a.m. and involved the trailer portion of the truck. There were no injuries to the driver, who managed to escape unharmed as the fire quickly spread across the trailer and consumed the contents. The flames were intense, drawing a rapid response from local authorities, including a command unit, two heavy rescue units, a main pump, a sergeant, a corporal, and five firefighters who arrived from the Elda Fire Station to fight the blaze. The situation highlighted the speed at which a refrigerated unit can become engulfed when the insulation and cooling systems fail and fuel loads combine with onboard electrical components. The fire forced responders to establish control zones and coordinate hose lines and water supply to prevent the blaze from spreading beyond the truck itself. Reportedly, personnel worked through the night to contain the fire and protect nearby roadside infrastructure. (Civil Traffic Guards) (Provincial Firefighters Consortium)
The truck was completely consumed by the flames, and traffic on the Madrid-bound lanes of the highway was halted at first. A few hours later, the authorities managed to reopen only one lane, allowing limited traffic to pass while work continued. Traffic Safety officials noted the disruption was significant but contained, given the early hour and limited roadway usage due to the low volume of traffic. (Civil Traffic Guards) (Provincial Firefighters Consortium)
Firefighters continued their efforts into the morning, with operations extending until approximately 7:39 a.m. The teams remained vigilant, prepared for a possible rekindle of embers among the wreckage. Once the main firefighting operation concluded, investigators and responders assessed the scene to determine the cause and assess any environmental impact. (Civil Traffic Guards) (Provincial Firefighters Consortium)