Two days after the devastating fire that shook Valencia’s Campanar district and claimed ten lives, the chief inspector of the Valencia City Council Fire Department, Enrique Gisbert, publicly thanked every member of the team. He stated that crews are currently focused on prevention measures at the building to prevent a recurrence. He confirmed the structure is stable and there is no risk of collapse, emphasizing safety in the wake of the tragedy.
Regarding the victims, Gisbert noted that an official investigation is underway and that the case remains under formal secrecy. Nonetheless, he expressed cautious optimism, saying that rescuers have accessed all areas of the building and that the team on site does not expect further fatalities to be uncovered.
“Homes are the safest place”
Gisbert mourned the loss of a family found in the bathroom and recalled that firefighters operated according to established protocols. He stressed that homes are the safest place to shelter during an active fire while firefighters work to extinguish the flames. This is the standard procedure used in most emergencies. He added that sometimes, despite careful planning, outcomes can still be tragic because real-life emergencies do not always follow simple arithmetic. The team acted with the utmost caution, and colleagues risked their lives to protect others within the limits of what was possible.
The inspector also recounted a moment when a teammate managed to save a couple who spent several hours on a balcony. They faced the danger up close as burned debris and falling plates posed ongoing hazards, particularly for the first responders who battled the flames and structural instability.
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“It has been very hard because we have seen victims firsthand.”
Alex Carabal, one of the firefighters who responded to Valencia’s most infamous blaze in recent memory, shared his emotional toll. He spoke about fatigue and the heavy psychological burden: physically they appear intact, but internally the impact is profound. Some colleagues, including Carabal, witnessed victims and experienced relief when rescues succeeded yet felt the weight of what they could not prevent.
With twenty years in service, Carabal described the incident as among the toughest. He noted that the profession always carries risk, but it is even more painful when children are involved. He spoke of the frustration of not being able to reach everyone in time and the sense of helplessness that words fail to capture.
Regarding the family who lost their lives, Gisbert echoed the official guidance: such fires occur once in a very long while, around a 0.1 percent likelihood. All standard safety procedures were followed, and the team emphasizes that closing doors can mean the difference between life and death. Yet, he added, real emergencies do not come with guarantees, and the tragedy testifies to the unpredictable nature of fire and rescue work.
The crew remains enveloped in sorrow: a lower-ranking firefighter noted that his colleague on the ground could not always grasp what was happening outside. He expressed empathy for the families and friends who mourn, while acknowledging that the responders themselves are deeply affected and hope that no similar disaster will ever occur again.