News
A deliberate fire evacuates La Vaguada and leaves one person detained
La Vaguada had to be evacuated this Saturday after a fire broke out in the loading and unloading area of the shopping centre. The blaze interrupted the afternoon of hundreds of people visiting its shops, restaurants and air-conditioned corridors on a day marked by high temperatures.
The fire started in a container holding flammable materials and produced a thick column of smoke. The situation required the emergency protocol to be activated and the building to be evacuated while security teams closed off entrances and guided customers and staff outside.
Nine units from Bomberos del Ayuntamiento de Madrid arrived at the site and brought the fire under control quickly. Ventilating the affected area took longer due to the amount of smoke that had built up, while several nearby streets remained closed to facilitate the operation.
The evacuation proceeded in an orderly manner thanks to the coordination between private security, Policía Municipal, and Policía Nacional. One security guard needed medical attention for smoke inhalation, but his condition was not serious and no other injuries were reported.
The investigation pointed from the start to an intentional cause. According to initial findings, a 52-year-old man is believed to have started the fire after being expelled from the shopping centre when he was caught stealing from one of the shops.
The suspect is said to have thrown a lit cigarette butt into the container before leaving the area. Hours later, officers found him on avenida de Monforte de Lemos, hiding among several vehicles, and proceeded to arrest him.
The incident particularly affected those who had chosen La Vaguada to escape the heat, spend the afternoon with family, or go shopping. The evacuation left entrances closed for several hours, customers waiting outside, and changes to traffic in the surrounding area.
The scene shows one of the busiest shopping centres in the north of Madrid gradually resuming activity after an unusual afternoon. The speed of the evacuation and the fire being put out prevented more serious consequences in a venue that welcomes thousands of people every day.