Police in Valencia have arrested four workers for alleged negligence after a fire in Benicalap. The incident forced 80 residents to evacuate. The arrests support the Roma family's claim they were not responsible.
Four men have been arrested in Valencia following a fire that broke out in the basement of two buildings on Calle Picayo, Benicalap, on Thursday afternoon. The National Police detained the workers, aged 35, 39, 48, and 49, on suspicion of gross negligence. According to police sources, the men—two Algerians, one Spaniard, and one Romanian—were carrying out welding and sealing work in the premises, which had recently been vacated after being occupied by several families.
The incident, which occurred around 16:00, did not result in injuries but caused a thick column of black smoke visible across much of the city. Emergency services evacuated approximately 80 residents, many of whom spent the night in municipal shelters or hotels. The fire has reignited tensions in the neighborhood, where the ground floor had been occupied by up to ten large families over the past five years.
The arrests have shifted the focus of the investigation. Initially, some neighbors accused the last Roma family living in the basement of starting the fire in retaliation for a court-ordered eviction. However, the family presented police with a mobile phone video recorded from a nearby building, showing the workers leaving the premises shortly after the fire began. This evidence led authorities to detain the workers rather than the family, supporting the family's insistence that they were not responsible for the blaze.
Police sources confirmed that the workers were using electric welding equipment in an environment containing flammable materials, including stored tires. This raised suspicions of negligence as a possible cause of the fire. The last day for the families to vacate the premises had been set by the court for Thursday, and by the time of the incident, only four or five members of the Roma family remained, according to their account.
Local residents described the situation with the previous occupants as "untenable," citing unsanitary conditions and threats directed at some neighbors. The evicted family is now seeking social assistance and alternative housing. The case has drawn attention to ongoing tensions around evictions and the risks associated with sealing off previously occupied properties. In a related context, recent incidents involving law enforcement and public safety have also made headlines, such as the government's response to internal investigations within the Guardia Civil.
Fires caused by welding or renovation work in buildings with leftover flammable materials are not uncommon in Spain, especially in urban areas where properties have been occupied or abandoned. Authorities typically urge property owners and contractors to follow strict safety protocols when working in such environments. The Benicalap incident highlights the complex challenges faced by city officials, emergency services, and residents in managing the aftermath of evictions and ensuring public safety during property transitions. The outcome of the investigation may influence future procedures for securing vacated buildings in Valencia and other Spanish cities.
