Almendralejo (Badajoz) (EFE).- The spectacular fire that has affected two companies in the industrial estate of Almendralejo (Badajoz) has been controlled this Tuesday after five hours of work since it was declared in one of them, the recycling plant of plastics and cardboard from Natuyser, which has been completely burned.
This has been confirmed by sources from the Provincial Fire Extinguishing Consortium (CEPEI) of the Badajoz Provincial Council and the Almendralejo City Council.
An Infoex firefighting helicopter was involved in the work, together with the CEPEI fire departments from the Almendralejo, Mérida, Villafranca de los Barros, Hornachos and Don Benito-Villanueva parks.
In total, ten vehicles have been deployed including urban bombs, rural bombs, mother bombs, in addition to the command unit and another transport unit.
The work of these means has made it possible to stabilize the fire in the recycling factory four hours after the start of the fire.
Red Cross assists workers and firefighters
Most of the people treated have been for fainting, smoke inhalation and small minor burns.
The Red Cross has mobilized two medicalized ambulances, as well as a refreshment station for the personnel who have worked in the extinction and the security forces.
The fire originated in the Natuyser cardboard and plastic recycling company, which kept a lot of material and which has been completely burned.
In addition, it soon spread to the Exportadora de Aceitunas company, although it has not affected its structure, as confirmed by CEPEI management sources posted to the area.
The significant column of smoke and the high flames, in addition to the heat reached in the area, have forced the eviction of companies on the same block as the industrial estate, such as the Konecta call center, where some 200 people work per shift, as reported by the mayor, José María Ramírez.
The alderman, who has traveled to the area of the fire, has indicated that the causes of the origin are not yet known.
The Infoex helicopter charges into the new municipal swimming pool
Ramírez has highlighted that the intervention of the Infoex helicopter, displaced from the town of Maguilla, which has been able to load the water in the new municipal summer pool, which had been filled a few days ago to test the purification system.
The large clouds of smoke generated, due to the cardboard bales stored in the factory, have been seen from kilometers away.
For this reason, from the 112 Extremadura Emergency and Emergency Center they have asked the population for caution.
In addition, it so happens that in front of this plant, on the other side of the street, there is a butane warehouse in which some 7,000 cylinders accumulate, according to company sources.