40-Hour Scrapyard Fire Near Orihuela Hospital Finally Brought Under Control

A Fire That Burned for Over 40 Hours

A large fire at a scrapyard in Benejúzar, in the Vega Baja del Segura area of Alicante province, burned for more than 40 hours before finally being extinguished. The blaze at the Desguaces Mora scrapyard broke out at 3:52pm on Saturday, May 2 in an outdoor storage area and was not fully brought under control until 8:30am on Monday, May 4.

No injuries were reported throughout the incident.

Proximity to Vega Baja Regional Hospital

The most significant concern throughout the emergency was the location of the scrapyard: just 400 metres from the Vega Baja Regional Hospital. The sustained proximity of smoke and burning materials to a functioning hospital prompted serious concern from local authorities and emergency services throughout the weekend. Hospital operations were not reported to have been disrupted, but the situation was monitored closely.

Emergency Response

Fire crews from Orihuela and Almoradí, coordinated by the Alicante Provincial Fire Consortium, attended the scene and worked through the weekend to contain and extinguish the blaze. Guardia Civil officers were also present.

The fire is believed to have started in an outdoor storage area of the scrapyard, though the exact cause remains under investigation. The site has a history of previous fires, according to local reports.

Cause Under Investigation

Authorities are investigating the origin of the blaze. The scrapyard's history of previous incidents at the same location will form part of the inquiry. No further details on potential causes have been confirmed publicly.

Residents in the surrounding area were advised to keep windows closed and avoid unnecessary outdoor activity during the worst of the smoke, particularly given the proximity to the hospital and local homes.

This article is based on reporting from Alicante Today, published May 4, 2026.