A fire early on Friday morning in a shanty town in Vilassar de Dalt, Barcelona, forced 25 people to leave their homes and left one person with minor injuries. The injured individual was taken to Mataró Hospital.
The emergency services received an alert at 1:55am on 15 May, reporting the fire in the Can Montalt area. Twelve units from the Generalitat Fire Service, five ambulances from the Medical Emergency System (SEM), and patrols from the Mossos d'Esquadra and Vilassar de Dalt Local Police responded to the scene.
The fire started on a private property near the municipal football pitch on Salvador Albert i Riera street, where around 100 people live illegally in wooden shacks. Firefighters found the blaze fully developed, with flames reaching up to eight metres high, according to ElCaso.com. The fire was extinguished four hours later, at 6am.
One person received treatment from SEM health professionals for an anxiety attack and smoke inhalation. They were transported to Mataró Hospital with a mild prognosis. The fire completely burnt 500 square metres, including several shacks and a small forest area next to the settlement.
Investigation Underway
According to the Mossos d'Esquadra, 25 people lost their homes and were displaced. This is the third fire in the area in recent years, with the last one recorded six years ago, ElCaso.com reported. The private property owner has over 100 people living illegally in shacks, without contracts and with illegal electricity connections.
The Mossos d'Esquadra have started an investigation to determine if the fire was accidental or intentional. The Vilassar de Dalt City Council issued a statement confirming it is working to rehouse 17 of the affected individuals, who are in a vulnerable situation.
The council has also contacted the Catalonia Emergency Operational Coordination Centre (CECAT), the Generalitat's Social Rights department, the Maresme Regional Council, and the Red Cross to help with the situation.
