AN ALERT earlier today warning residents in three towns not to leave their homes due to toxic smoke from a waste plant fire has been lifted and 'air quality is now within the normal range', according to emergency services in the Greater Madrid region.
The flames affected 40 tonnes of shredded magnesium and aluminium on the La Vega II industrial estate in Fuenlabrada, and everyone living in the towns of Griñón, Humanes and Moraleja de Enmedio were told to stay indoors and keep their windows shut.
Firefighters were called out to the warehouse on the C/ Sierra de Cazorla on the retail park at around 09.20 this morning (Saturday).
One man has been admitted to hospital in Getafe with second-degree burns, and a skip and a lorry have been reduced to charred wrecks, although the warehouse itself was not affected as the blaze was outside it.
All surrounding industrial estates, and the Ciudad de Fuenlabrada Hotel had to be evacuated, whilst traffic on the regional M-506 highway was diverted due to poor visibility caused by the smoke.
The flames were contained swiftly, and by around 15.00 today the fire brigade was contacting residents to tell them it was safe to leave their homes.
Photograph by the Greater Madrid regional emergency services
