After Fire in Sa Coma: Emergency Shelters, Hybrid Cars and Unanswered Questions

After Fire in Sa Coma: Emergency Shelters, Hybrid Cars and Unanswered Questions

Key question: Why does a car fire in an underground garage force dozens of people to leave their homes — and what is missing from the safety discussion?

In the early morning the typical winter mist still hung over Sa Coma, seagulls cried near the beach, then sirens pierced the silence. A fire in the underground garage of an apartment block led to the evacuation of around 50 residents. Twenty-five of them were first taken to the municipal sports center and later housed by the Sant Llorenç municipality in holiday apartments in the BJ Europa complex; they are expected to stay there until January 2. According to the municipality, a burning hybrid vehicle was responsible. Twenty-three people suffered smoke inhalation, and four were taken to Manacor hospital with minor injuries.

Short and to the point: immediate aid worked. Firefighters and emergency services responded quickly, neighbors helped gather pets and important documents, and the municipality found a rapid temporary solution. But: such incidents also expose longstanding vulnerabilities. An underground garage is not a harmless place; it can become a death trap of smoke and heat within minutes — especially when lithium batteries from hybrid or electric cars are involved, as seen in Fire on the Paseo Marítimo: A Blaze, Many Questions.

Critical analysis: hybrid batteries burn differently than petrol tanks. They can undergo thermal runaway, causing the fire to reignite repeatedly. That makes firefighting prolonged and more complex. In many residential buildings, ventilation systems, smoke detectors or automatic smoke-extraction systems are not designed for such scenarios. There is also the question of how well prepared people are for evacuations: are there clear assembly points, does every floor know its escape routes, do caretakers and residents know how long the building should remain inaccessible? Similar safety questions were raised after the Fire in hotel at Playa de Palmanova: Evacuation, no injuries — and unanswered questions.

What is often missing from public debate is the technical dimension of battery fires, the responsibility of the housing industry and the digitization of emergency plans. Conversations quickly focus on the dramatic scene — evacuation, ambulances, guests in temporary accommodation — but hardly anyone talks about preventive inspections, mandatory fire detection systems in garages, or how rental contracts and property managers should regulate emergency housing.

Everyday scene from Sa Coma: in the afternoon neighbors gather on the promenade, speaking quietly about what happened. The corner bakery is still open; people exchange thermos flasks, bring blankets and toys for children who lost their homes. An older man from the second floor says he smelled burning plastic during the night and only then woke up; a young mother thanks volunteers who brought diapers and water. These small, improvised acts of help are often what those affected remember most.

Concrete solutions to be pursued now: first, mandatory risk checks for underground garages with special attention to electric vehicles and their charging points; second, a requirement for automatic smoke-extraction and fire-detection systems in apartment building garages; third, training for property managers and regular evacuation drills that include elderly and mobility-impaired residents; fourth, an information campaign: clear guidance for residents on how to behave during battery fires, safe storage of chargers and where to temporarily keep documents, medication and pets in an emergency; fifth, clear municipal rules for rapid accommodation — contracts with hotels or apartment complexes like BJ Europa can help, but they must be part of a permanent plan, not just improvised. These measures echo calls made after the Fire on the outskirts of Palma: When improvised settlements become a ticking time bomb.

Another non-technical issue: psychological aftercare. Smoke inhalation often heals physically, but the loss of the feeling of safety remains. Even if flats sustain little material damage, trust in one’s home is shaken. Municipalities and local social services should provide more coordinated support here, as argued in Back from the firefront: What Mallorca's responders really need.

Punchy conclusion: the fire in Sa Coma was a wake-up call, nothing more. The immediate help prevented worse outcomes. But the next “night of sirens” will come for sure — and then it will become clear whether lessons have been learned or whether people will again have to rely on luck and neighborly help. It is clear: technology, administration and community must work together. In the end it’s not only about who puts out the flames, but about who ensures they never become so dangerous in the first place.