A FOREST fire in inland Valencia province has forced 2,500 people to flee their homes and already wiped out over 1,400 hectares (3,460 acres).
The inferno in Llutxent, in the central Vall d'Albaida district, is believed to have been caused by lightning after brief but dramatic electric storms crossed the province on Sunday and Monday nights.
Lack of wind means the blaze is not spreading too rapidly, but is still burning out of control and has already stretched into the neighbouring district of La Safor, a few kilometres from the coast, since yesterday afternoon.
At present, 21 planes and helicopters are dropping water on the flames and the Armed Forces emergency response unit has sent in 136 soldiers, whilst more than 50 fire engines are on site.
Those evacuated are based in the urbanisations of Montesol and Montepino, and also La Drova in the La Safor mountain village of Barx – a residential area with a very high concentration of British expats.
They have been given overnight accommodation at the sports centre in the Raval district of the La Safor district capital, Gandia, and the Red Cross and Gandia council workers are on hand to deal with their needs.
Since the blaze broke out at around 15.00, emergency services have received 379 calls.
Temperatures in the province of Valencia yesterday ranged from 37ºC to 40ºC and winds at the time were over 40 kilometres per hour in inland areas.
