Old Coviran supermarket ablaze. Credit; X @FabianPicardo
A major fire broke out at the old Coviran supermarket on Devil’s Tower Road in Gibraltar on Sunday evening (February 9), prompting emergency services, evacuations, and road closure.
No injuries were reported, but the blaze led to fears of structural collapse.
Fire at Coviran declared a major incident
According to the Gibraltar Fire and Rescue Service (GFRS), crews arrived at the scene and found significant flames and smoke billowing from the building, which had recently been converted into a construction site. At 8:44 pm, the GFRS escalated the situation to a major incident, calling in 12 additional firefighters.
By 9:20 pm, the Airport Fire & Rescue Service (AFRS) was deployed to assist the GFRS with two fire appliances. Firefighters took defensive measures after the structure showed signs of collapse, surrounding the blaze and hosing from all angles.
As thick black smoke spread across the area, residents of North View Terraces were evacuated as a precaution. Some evacuees waited at Nuno’s restaurant before receiving clearance to return home around midnight.
Traffic was also severely impacted, with Devil’s Tower Road closed and vehicles rerouted through Gibraltar’s runway. The Royal Gibraltar Police (RGP), along with HM Customs and the Gibraltar Defence Police (GDP), worked to manage diversions.
By 10:28 pm, the GFRS confirmed the fire was under control. In total, seven fire appliances and 30 firefighters battled the flames, while additional crews remained on standby.
Chief Minister Fabian Picardo visited the site on Sunday night and reassured affected residents of government support if temporary housing was needed. He later praised emergency services for their swift response, stating on X:
“I just visited the site of the fire at Devil’s Tower Road to reassure the residents of North View Terraces that they will have the support of the Government if they need to move to the Retreat Centre tonight.
I want to thank the GFRS (and the AFRS supporting them) for their work tonight to extinguish the fire and the RGP also for their support in the process of doing so.
The key issue, as ever, is the safety of our citizens and residents and our fire and law enforcement officers.”
Authorities have warned that traffic and pedestrian diversions may continue into Monday morning, especially during rush hour.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation, with officials expected to assess the damage in the coming days.
View all news in Gibraltar.
View all articles by Letara Draghia.
