A large fire broke out late Saturday afternoon at a recycling plant in the Els Serrans industrial area of Aielo de Malferit. Smoke spreading across the region prompted the Generalitat Valenciana to activate its emergency plan. The fire began around 17:45, and its cause remains under investigation. Thick plumes soon became visible from several kilometers away, affecting both the Vall d’Albaida and La Costera areas.
Emergency services deployed six firefighting units from Xàtiva, Alzira, Ontinyent, Torrent, and Vallada, along with a sergeant from Alzira and two forest fire teams from the Generalitat. Their immediate priority is to keep the flames within the storage yard, where large quantities of cardboard and plastic are stored, and stop the fire reaching neighboring warehouses. The Provincial Fire Consortium of Valencia said the fire developed rapidly and remains highly active.
Intense smoke led the Emergency Coordination Center to declare Situation 0 under the Territorial Emergency Plan for the Valencian Community (PTECV). The protocol applies when damage is localized but coordinated action is needed at the local or supramunicipal level. Residents have been strongly advised to stay indoors, close all doors and windows, and keep outside air from entering. Authorities also recommend limiting physical activity indoors and outdoors to reduce exposure to airborne particles.
Emergencias 112 reiterated the safety measures on social media, urging people to limit time outdoors and seal their homes as much as possible. Smoke continues to pose a public health risk in the affected municipalities. A separate recycling-plant fire in Alhendín, Granada, in September 2026 also sent smoke across surrounding areas, prompting local authorities to advise residents to protect themselves.
A separate incident at an outdoor recycling facility in Matola, Elche, shows the scale of resources such fires can require. The Consorcio Provincial de Bomberos de Alicante said the emergency call came in at 04:20 on 18 October 2026. Six vehicles and 19 firefighters were dispatched from Elche, Almoradí, and San Vicente del Raspeig. The fire involved stored scrap metal and household goods, produced large flames and smoke, caused no reported injuries, and remained under investigation. Those deployment figures relate to the Elche incident, not Aielo de Malferit.
This incident follows a series of recent emergencies in Spain in which authorities have acted swiftly to protect residents from environmental hazards. For example, a recent evacuation in Barcelona followed the discovery of a large sinkhole that threatened several buildings. The episode highlighted the challenges facing emergency services across the country.
Fires at recycling plants are particularly challenging because stored materials such as cardboard and plastics are combustible, generate impressive smoke, and complicate firefighting efforts. In Aielo, local and regional resources are working together, while Situation 0 allows authorities to coordinate the response as the emergency develops. The cause of the fire remains under investigation. Residents are urged to follow updates from official channels as firefighters continue their work.
