A man has died this Saturday in the fire declared in the barranco del Salt de l’Aigua, in the municipal term of Manises, in Valencia, an area of vegetation close to the course of the Turia, to the hospital and to several homes. According to the available information, the victim, an elderly man, had attempted to cross by car through the area affected by the fire and his vehicle was later found burned.
The fire started around 12:45 PM and generated a significant column of smoke visible from various points in the metropolitan area of Valencia. Although initially treated as a vegetation fire, the evolution of the flames forced its reclassification as a forest fire due to its advance through the ravine and the presence of reeds, scrub, and trees that facilitated the spread.
Two days of official mourning
The City Council of Manises has confirmed the death of a resident of the municipality and has declared two days of official mourning, scheduled for this Sunday and Monday, in sign of mourning for the death recorded during the emergency.
The news has struck a town that for hours has lived with concern over the evolution of the flames due to the proximity of the fire to inhabited areas and sensitive infrastructures. The fire occurred in the vicinity of the bridge between Manises and Quart de Poblet, just meters from the Hospital de Manises and homes near the ravine.
A fire near homes and the hospital
The proximity of the fire to homes and the hospital raised the alarm from the very first moments. The flames advanced through a ravine area with abundant dry vegetation and forced the deployment of a large operation to stop the fire before it could reach nearby buildings or facilities.
The smoke also complicated the situation in the area, both due to visibility and the possible respiratory effects on neighbors, workers, and people who were near the area. In this type of urban-forest fire, the risk is not limited to the front of the flames: smoke can move quickly and affect areas far from the exact point where the vegetation is burning.
Firefighters, aerial resources, and medical assistance
In the firefighting efforts participated two aerial resources, several units from the Provincial Consortium of Firefighters of Valencia, forest units, and health resources, in a device activated to contain the flames and assist those affected by the smoke or by possible burns.
The operation included firefighters, BRIFO units, Consortium commanders, forest firefighters from the Generalitat, and ambulances, according to information provided by emergency services. The fire generated a strong smoke and forced cooling and monitoring work to prevent re-ignition once the situation was stabilized.
Injured by smoke and burns
In addition to the deceased, the fire left several people treated for smoke inhalation and burns. Five people were hospitalized, according to information released by emergency services and collected by EFE, although the priority of the operation was focused from the very beginning on stopping the advance of the fire and securing the area closest to homes and infrastructure.
The presence of injured individuals shows how quickly a ravine fire can become a risk emergency for the population, especially when the flames approach urban areas, roads, or spaces of regular transit.
The fire is stabilized, but monitoring continues
The fire was stabilized after several hours of work, although teams continued to cool the area and extinguish embers to prevent re-ignition. In dry vegetation fires, especially in ravines with reeds and shrubs, hot spots can remain active and reignite the fire if the wind changes or if hidden embers remain among the vegetation.
Authorities maintain the recommendation to stay away from the affected area, respect the closures, and follow the instructions of emergency services. The investigation will need to clarify the exact circumstances of the death and the evolution of the fire, while Manises faces two days of mourning for the death of one of its neighbors.