Tension grows as Valencia building fire swells
A wave of anxiety swept through neighbors as a fierce fire raged through the building at the corner of Master Rodrigo Avenue and Poeta Rafael Alberti Street. This blaze stands as the most serious fire in recent years in Valencia, shaking residents and drawing urgent attention from emergency responders.
Residents who managed to escape describe a scene of sudden chaos. One neighbor, Rai, said the apartment owner was not at home when the flames began and that the fire spread rapidly through the unit and into the building. “We started hearing glass breaking and had to leave because it was no longer safe inside,” the resident asserted, expressing dismay that the fire service appeared more focused on the flames than on people in danger.
“Many people are still inside. We managed to rescue a neighbor who uses a wheelchair, but there are others being told to block door gaps with cloths,” another neighbor explained, adding that the rubber under the facade panels may have served as fuel for the flames as the fire spread along the exterior.
Adriana, the building administrator, described the sudden outbreak around 5:20 PM in a block containing 138 homes and noted that firefighters were alerted immediately. “It surprised many of us,” she recounted, visibly nervous and distressed, “but an hour later I still see people on balconies as the fire jumps to Tower 2.”
Tension with the police
Those who managed to flee stood outside the clustered blocks, their anger and helplessness visible. Strong winds hurled burning debris onto the street, forcing police to widen the safety perimeter and protect passersby from falling material.
Officers pushed residents back to create a safer zone, a scene that heightened emotions: “My house is burning, damn it! Don’t push me,” one resident shouted, tears streaming down their face, as the crowd grew tenser.
As the atmosphere thickened with fear, witnesses noted that by 6:30 PM screams for help could still be heard from within the building, underscoring the danger and urgency of the rescue efforts.
Outrage among neighbors
Eva, who lives two floors above the blaze, told Levante-EMV that the moment they realized there was fire, the building manager alerted the caretaker, who then went door to door to warn others. “The caretaker kept calling the flat where the fire began, but no one answered. We still don’t know how it started or why it spread so quickly,” she said, clearly agitated.
Eva expressed strong dissatisfaction with the firefighting response, insisting that it took more than an hour before any water was directed into the interior while the blaze raged. She broke into tears, describing the devastation and the sense that the situation had not been addressed promptly. This sentiment was shared by many witnesses who argued that strong winds hampered extinguishing efforts, and that there was a perception of excessive police presence and insufficient fire service action during the critical early stages.
The prevailing mood was one of concern and frustration as the city contends with the hazardous conditions caused by the wind and the fire. The incident left many residents facing the aftermath of ash and smoke, with authorities continuing to manage the scene and coordinate safety nearby.