The fire, declared this afternoon on Palangre Street, has destroyed three glass containers and two cardboard cages. The smoke affected two houses, which were ventilated by firefighters.
A fire has consumed five waste collection items in the tourist town of Playa Blanca, in the municipality of Yaiza. The incident occurred this Friday, around 19:00, on Palangre Street, according to the Lanzarote and La Graciosa Security and Emergency Consortium.
The flames completely destroyed three glass containers and two metal cages intended for cardboard storage. The smoke and combustion gases reached two nearby homes, prompting responders to proceed with natural ventilation to restore safe conditions for the occupants.
The Emergency and Security Coordinating Centre (CECOES) 1-1-2 received the alert and mobilised the Consortium firefighters, who upon arrival confirmed that the fire was fully developed. The extinguishing teams established a water attack line in a spray pattern and managed to extinguish the flames. Subsequently, they cooled the affected materials to prevent possible reignition.
Once the extinguishing efforts were completed, the firefighters conducted a thermal and visual inspection to ensure there were no residual hotspots. After verifying that the area was safe, they informed CECOES of the service's conclusion and returned to base.
Local Police and Civil Guard personnel also participated in the intervention, responsible for perimeter security and traffic regulation in the affected area.
This type of container fire is not uncommon in tourist areas during peak season, where the accumulation of waste and high temperatures can promote the spread of flames. Authorities remind the importance of not depositing flammable materials or poorly extinguished cigarette butts in containers, as well as respecting collection schedules to avoid excessive accumulations.
Residents of Palangre Street have expressed their concern over the incident, although no personal or structural damage has been reported in the affected homes, beyond the need for ventilation. The Security and Emergency Consortium has stated that the causes of the fire are under investigation, with no determination yet on whether it was intentional or accidental.
Playa Blanca is one of the main tourist hubs in Lanzarote, and the rapid intervention of emergency services prevented the fire from spreading to other areas. The Local Police advise citizens that, in case of observing smoke or flames in containers, they should immediately call 1-1-2 and not attempt to extinguish it themselves.
You may also like
