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Massive Fire Destroys Former Aigües d'Arinsal Bottling Plant in Arinsal After 24-Hour Battle

High winds and complex structure fueled the blaze that ruined the 4,000m² facility, prompting evacuations and road closures but causing no injuries. Officials praise containment efforts amid ongoing probe into electrical origins.

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Key Points

  • Massive fire destroyed 4,000m² former Aigües d'Arinsal bottling plant in Arinsal after 24-hour battle fueled by high winds and complex structure.
  • No injuries reported; evacuations of 35 hotel guests and nearby residents due to thick smoke.
  • Road CG-5 closed temporarily; officials praise containment efforts limiting damage to site.
  • Investigation focuses on recently installed electrical panel as likely origin, no arson suspected.

Firefighters battled a major fire at the former Aigües d'Arinsal bottling plant in Arinsal, La Massana parish, for over 24 hours after it broke out Wednesday evening around 7pm. The blaze, which started under the roof and spread rapidly due to high winds gusting up to 95km/h and the building's complex structure—including a double roof with plasterboard—destroyed the entire 4,000m² facility, rendering it ruined and irreparable.

Initial reports described smoke from the chimney, but flames grew uncontrollably overnight. The roof collapsed around 1am Thursday, producing intense fire visible across the area. Up to 40 firefighters from 10 units worked in shifts, facing access challenges: crews on the roof tried cutting through without success, while the 6m-high interior proved equally inaccessible. Winds fueled the spread, prompting a defensive strategy to contain it within the perimeter and prevent jumps to nearby woodland or buildings.

No injuries occurred, though thick smoke forced evacuations. Around 35 guests from Hotel Montané's 16 occupied rooms, plus residents from nearby aparthotels, were relocated by Red Cross to Hotel Sant Gothard. Nearby residents faced confinement orders, with windows shut and mask use advised amid lingering fumes. Firefighting drew heavily from the public water supply, causing shortages in upper Arinsal.

Road CG-5 remained closed from early Thursday for safety, with escorted convoys every two hours from 2pm. An excavator demolished the unstable village-side facade to secure the site and aid extinguishment. Normal traffic resumed around 9pm after barriers were placed, though reduced crews monitored overnight with police support. Full extinguishment is targeted for Friday morning.

Head of Government Xavier Espot, Interior Minister Ester Molné, and Massana consols Eva Sansa and Roger Fité visited Thursday morning, praising emergency coordination. Espot noted the fire's unexpected scale from building type, renovation, and winds, but stressed containment success: "No personal harm, only material damage confined to the site." Sansa expressed "impotence" over the sentimental loss of the 1972 facility, recently refurbished while preserving its rustic style.

The €15 million revamp by Aigua Pura—owned by Causes Pies and leased long-term—included all bottling machinery ready for health ministry water extraction approval. Director Sandra Martín confirmed total loss, recounting initial hopes of limited damage before escalation. Investigations by police, firefighters, and industry officials will probe origins once cooled; early focus falls on a recently installed electrical panel, with no arson indications from drone footage. A maintenance worker was the last on site before smoke appeared.

The ski station closed amid access issues. Protecció Civil wrapped operations Thursday evening but urged caution. Red Cross provided logistics, including rest tents and meals for crews. This follows similar roof fires at Massana's Tiffany's years ago.

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