Arson Ruled Out in La Querola Fire; 18-Month Rebuild Planned

Police, fire service, and Industry Department experts have ruled out arson in the La Querola fire in Ordino, while promoter Jordi Cerqueda points to a nearby forest fire as the probable source and anticipates an 18-month reconstruction timeline.

Specialists including police directors Bruno Lasne, Toni Rodríguez, and Miquel Àngel Barbolla, along with fire service heads Juanjo Barrio and Josep Joan Ribera, inspected the urbanisation last Thursday. Their joint report found no evidence of deliberate ignition and will be forwarded to the Batllia. With criminality excluded, attention turns to promoters, builders, and insurers over the losses.

The investigation also revealed critical fire safety defects, describing the site as a potential death trap had the luxury homes been occupied. Officials had previously withheld habitability certificates due to these issues. The blaze on 24 September damaged interiors of homes across the complex, affecting roughly a quarter of the development and primarily two buildings. Foundations in the hardest-hit zones remain intact, preserving the basis for rebuilding—pending approvals separate from the cause probe.

In RTVA comments, Cerqueda reiterated that a small fire in a remote wooded area preceded the main blaze, with heat possibly spreading to the buildings, though he stressed investigations by police and firefighters continue and could conclude in two to three weeks. He described the incident as a misfortune with no blame assigned, noting the site's fire detectors and external alarms were installed but disconnected amid unfinished works. Around 40% of properties had sold via promises and pre-contracts before the fire.

Cerqueda expects common areas and access routes to reopen ahead of full habitability, though some homes may trail the 18-month target. The builder, Cevalls, holds insurance to cover rehabilitation, with interiors—featuring extensive wood cladding over concrete-and-steel structures—targeted to match original quality standards after two decades of investment.