A HUGE forest fire in the province of Huelva has forced emergency services to evacuate over 500 residents, but they were all able to return home last night (Saturday).
The blaze broke out on Friday afternoon in La Granada de Riotinto, and dwellers in at least seven villages – some over the border in the province of Sevilla – had to leave their homes because of the thick smoke generated.
Between Friday night and Saturday morning, the tied hamlets of Minas, La Aulaga, El Peralejo, La Reserva, Vistahermosa, Las Cortecillas, and Pedro Amigo, which belong to El Castillo de las Guardas (Sevilla province) were evacuated, followed swiftly by the Juan Esteban and Las Almuñas urbanisations in La Granada del Riotinto (Huelva province) as well as the Puerto Alto-Camino Jarama de Zufre areas.
About 120 evacuees had to be given emergency overnight accommodation in makeshift shelters set up in El Castillo de las Guardas' library, day centre, primary school and sports centre, whilst the rest stayed with family or friends or, if they were holiday homeowners, went back to their main residences.
Despite the proximity of the inferno to the main N-433 highway, emergency services have not had to close it as yet.
Firefighters and forestry brigades face a tough challenge, with a wall of flames of over 20 metres (65 feet) high spreading across over 20 kilometres (12.5 miles).
