Fire at Pamplona psychiatric clinic leaves one dead and 18 hospitalized

Fire declared at Pamplona psychiatric facility

A fire broke out at approximately 20:55 on Saturday, 19 September 2026, inside a room at the Padre Menni psychiatric residence on Paseo de los Enamorados in Pamplona. The incident caused the death of a 56-year-old female patient who was inside the facility. Smoke rapidly spread from the affected room into adjoining corridors and residential areas of the building, prompting staff and emergency personnel to initiate an immediate evacuation. Firefighting crews deployed to the scene and brought the flames under control, preventing the blaze from spreading to other wings of the facility.

Medical evaluations and injury breakdown

Healthcare teams transported 18 people to local hospital facilities due to injuries and smoke exposure sustained during the incident. According to data provided by the Navarra Department of Health, one 62-year-old man was admitted to the intensive care unit in serious condition. Two other individuals were placed in resuscitation units, where their condition was described as stable. The remaining patients admitted for care suffered from mild smoke inhalation.

Six of the 18 people who required hospital treatment were staff members working at the psychiatric center when the fire began. Initial official communications from the Government of Navarra on Saturday night reported that seven individuals had been hospitalized for smoke inhalation. That figure was subsequently revised upward to 18 as on-site medical staff completed evaluations of all exposed residents and employees who had inhaled fumes.

Mobilization of emergency units and patient relocation

The emergency response involved firefighting units dispatched from both the Trinitarios and Cordovilla fire stations in the Pamplona metropolitan area. Emergency medical authorities deployed two advanced life support ambulances, six basic life support ambulances, and a specialized on-site medical team to attend to victims. The public health transport enterprise of Navarra, Bidean, erected a logistical support tent directly outside the residence to organize patient triage and coordinate hospital transfers.

Because residual smoke and interior conditions prevented patients from remaining inside the building overnight, authorities evacuated and relocated approximately 50 residents to alternative accommodation as a precautionary measure. Firefighters completed ventilation and safety checks late on Saturday night, allowing emergency workers to secure the site.

Police investigation into the origin of the blaze

The National Police took charge of the judicial investigation and formal proceedings to determine the precise circumstances and ignition source of the fire inside the bedroom. Officers from the Pamplona Municipal Police collaborated throughout the operation by securing the perimeter along Paseo de los Enamorados, directing traffic, and maintaining access routes for emergency vehicles.

The Padre Menni psychiatric clinic, operated by the Hermanas Hospitalarias, serves as the primary specialized center in the chartered community of Navarra for treating mental illnesses and psychiatric disorders. Authorities confirmed that the technical investigation into the cause of the fire remains ongoing.