The National Police has closed the investigation into the fire that alarmed all of Palma on July 6. The blaze, which forced the evacuation of Son Banya and put the airport on alert, was caused by an accidental overheating in the brakes of a trailer.
On July 6, a column of black smoke hovered over the area of Son Sant Joan airport, causing panic among the residents of Palma. The fire, which originated in the Mercapalma facility, forced the evacuation of the Son Banya settlement and kept airport authorities on edge. Now, the National Police has put an end to the mystery: the fire was completely accidental.
The investigation, led by the Robbery Group of the Superior Police Headquarters of the Balearic Islands, has determined that the origin of the incident was a “severe overheating” in the braking system of a trailer while it was in motion. The driver did not notice the problem until he parked the vehicle in the Mercapalma parking area.
The oven effect of the brakes
According to the police conclusions, the anomaly in the brakes caused an extreme thermal transfer directly to the tire covers. The huge masses of rubber reached critical temperatures within minutes, without the truck driver being able to detect it in time.
When the trailer stopped, the heat radiated from the wheels came into direct contact with the undergrowth and dry vegetation accumulated at the back of the parking lot. The high temperatures, combined with the flammable state of the ground, created the perfect ignition source.
The flames began just behind the truck's trailer and spread rapidly, fueled by the combustible material in the environment. The fire reached such magnitude that it forced the evacuation of the Son Banya settlement, a neighbourhood near Mercapalma, and activated the emergency protocols of Palma airport.
No criminal intent
The Robbery Group rules out any intent or criminal nature in the origin of the incident. The hypotheses that circulated during the first hours —ranging from a vandalistic act to an industrial accident— are now dismissed. It all boiled down to a spectacular and dramatic logistical scare.
For the residents of Son Banya and the workers at Mercapalma, the episode represented a tense day. The smoke, visible from several kilometres away, caused many families to leave their homes for precaution for several hours. Fortunately, there were no personal injuries to report.
The investigation has also served to review safety protocols in heavy vehicle parking areas. Although the case is closed, authorities recommend that transporters periodically check their braking systems, especially during hot weather.
The Mercapalma fire will remain a reminder that sometimes, the biggest scares come from the most unexpected mechanical failures. Fortunately, this time it all ended in a scare.
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