The forest fire which yesterday struck a natural park between Almuñécar (Granada) and Nerja (Málaga) is still active after having burnt 100 hectares of undergrowth and pine trees, although it is “almost under control” in Almuñécar and “evolving well” in Nerja.
According to spokespeople for Infoca and the Emergency Co-ordination Centre (Cecem), the flames, encouraged by strong winds all day, forced the evacuation of two farmhouses owned by an elderly man and a married couple with a child, although the fire did not finally cause any material damage.
Terrestrial forces – five fire engines, 50 specialist fire-fighters and another 15 people, including experts and agents of the Environment council - remained in the affected area overnight, and were joined at dawn by three extinguisher helicopters and two planes: one extinguisher and one for co-ordination.
The affected park is Los Castillejos, where there is an area of great archaeological interest, and the blaze almost reached the Peña Escrita rural tourism complex, which was finally avoided by the fire-breaks. The fire is believed to have begun around 11.30 hours last night.
According to the Environment delegate in the area, initial investigations point to a failure in an electricity supply as the possible cause of the fire.
News just in: The fire has been completely extinguished (12.05 hours)
