In Alhendín in the province of Granada, a major fire broke out at a private recycling plant list for construction waste on the afternoon of 7 September 2026. A plume of black smoke, visible from a long way off, prompted a large-scale response from fire brigade, emergency services and security forces. According to initial reports, an employee suffered mild smoke inhalation and was taken to San Cecilio Hospital in Granada.
According to the emergency service 112 and the Junta de Andalucía , several provincial fire services and city units from Granada attended. They were supported by the Guardia Civil, personnel from the Infoca, municipal police and volunteer civil protection units. The emergency crews focused on tackling the fire in the affected building and preventing it from spreading to nearby areas.
Specialists from the technical service TEDAX-NRBQ of the Guardia Civil carried out tests at the scene. An initial assessment found no hazardous substances in the smoke released. Further analyses are under way. The authorities stressed that this assessment applied to the early evening of 7 September.
Alhendín council advised residents in areas with noticeable smoke to keep windows and doors closed and avoid spending time outdoors. According to local reports, the fire started shortly before 4 pm. The authorities initially gave no information about its cause; an investigation has been launched.
The fire caused temporary traffic disruption around the plant. Firefighters worked to cool hot spots and prevent the blaze from reigniting. No information was initially available about damage to the recycling plant’s infrastructure.
Fires at plants that process and store construction waste can produce substantial amounts of smoke because of the volume of material involved. The emissions depend on the specific substances that burn. In this context, bringing in specialist monitoring and detection teams at an early stage helps assess health risks to the public and emergency crews quickly.
For a further assessment of the situation, the authorities are awaiting investigations into the cause of the fire, the release of pollutants and any potential environmental impacts. Forecasts of long-term effects cannot currently be relied upon and will depend on the results of technical examinations.
Editor: Mira Cadena (Article created with AI assistance).