Lleida, Catalonia, police are investigating the fire that affected the Arcofrut cooperative, with the Mossos d'Esquadra saying no line of inquiry has been ruled out. Some residents believe the blaze may have been started deliberately.
Mayor Fèlix Larrosa said four people received medical attention for mild smoke inhalation and were discharged at the scene. The fire also caused damage outside two homes, including windows, blinds and plastic items such as alarms and rubbish bins, which melted in the heat.
One family spent the night away from home, while another returned later. Residents in Vila Montcada-Ciutat Jardí described a tense evening, with one neighbour telling Segre that they were about to go to bed when they were told there was a fire.
The same resident said the flames were very large and that the wind helped keep smoke away from the houses. She also said the Mossos called their home and told them to leave, take essentials and move their car in case further evacuation was needed. Around 1am, residents were allowed back home but were told to keep doors and windows closed overnight.
Larrosa thanked the emergency services for their response and said firefighters from other stations, including Sabadell, Reus and Tarragona, were deployed. Authorities lifted the confinement order at 6am yesterday.
Residents also pointed to earlier incidents, including a fire in 2003, and said new planning and more extinguishers had been added since then. The Ciutat Jardí Neighbours' Association offered homes to anyone affected, while its president, Ramir Bonet, asked for solidarity from other cooperatives in the city to provide fruit pallets or cold storage space. The Mossos investigation continues to establish the exact cause of the fire.