Wildfire in Spain’s Costa del Sol Finally Extinguished
The wildfire that has been raging in the hills above Marbella and Estepona on Spain’s Costa del Sol has finally been declared extinguished. The fire, which started on June 8 in the Sierra Bermeja, has destroyed 4,680 hectares of woodland and led to the evacuation of residents from their homes in Benahavis.
Areas Affected by the Wildfire
The wildfire affected areas within the municipalities of Benahavís, Estepona, Faraján, Igualeja, Jubrique, Júzcar, and Pujerra. The fire was officially declared extinguished at 8pm on Sunday, June 27.
Firefighting Efforts
Andalucia’s official firefighting body, INFOCA, reported that over 3,300 firefighters were involved in tackling the blaze. They used 142 fire engines and water-carrying aircraft dropped 234 loads to douse the flames.
Firefighters Injured and Fire Origin
Three firefighters were injured during the initial hours of the blaze, which originated in the grounds of Finca La Resinera, an estate once owned by Libyan dictator Colonel Gadaffi. Investigators believe the wildfire was ignited by workers using heavy machinery on the grounds in a negligent manner.
Arrests and Evacuations
Four individuals were arrested and questioned in relation to the fire outbreak. However, the Guardia Civil concluded that the fire was not started intentionally. As the fire spread across the hillside, authorities decided to evacuate approximately 2,000 residents from their homes in and around Benahavis, Velerín Alto, Montemayor, Marbella Club, and Benahavis Hills.
Return of Residents and Damage Assessment
Residents were allowed to return home after two days and no buildings were reported to have suffered damage.
Call for National Park Status
A group campaigning for Sierra Bermeja to be granted National Park status, in the hope that it would bring additional funds and resources to protect the area against fires, criticized the regional government for their slow response. A petition calling for national park status has already garnered more than 77,000 signatures on change.org.
Another Wildfire in Sierra Bermeja
Another fire broke out in a nearby area in the Sierra Bermeja, destroying more than 8,000 hectares of precious pine forest.
Related News
In related news, 50 horses from the Benahavis racecourse were evacuated due to the fire in Sierra Bermeja. A veterinary center is seeking foster homes for the horses. Meanwhile, wildfires continue to rage across different parts of Spain as the June heatwave, described as ‘exceptional’, enters its sixth day.
