The Junta de Andalucía has activated a Level One Emergency Level, which refers to ‘the necessity to put measures to protect people and assets into practice’. More than 100 people are fighting the fire which started in the area known as Los Anayas at the height of Venta Cotrina at midday today. By the evening eight helicopters, two with the capacity of carrying 4,500 litres of water, five earth dropping planes and two amphibious airplanes which went to the beaches of the Costa del Sol to collect water, were still at the scene. The two planes and the high capacity helicopters had come from the Environment Ministry, and the rest formed part of the facilities under the control of the Junta de Andalucía, as detailed in the Infoca Plan.
A statement from Infoca said the steepness of the land was complicating their efforts and although in the early evening it was still out of control the prospects appeared favourable. In addition to Infoca, two engines from the fire service in Málaga, the regional and local police, civil protection and the sanitary services including the Red Cross all went to the scene.
The column of smoke was visible in much of Málaga city and in places across the province, with several comments appearing on Twitter. The Mayor of Málaga, Francisco de la Torre, was also tweeting during the fire, firstly demanding the maximum mobilisation of the fire services, which was seen as unnecessary criticism by some involved. Later he tweeted, ‘I have spoken to the Junta Environment Delegate and the Security Delegate in the City Hall. The news is reassuring. Animo y gracias a todos!!’ Finally 200 hectares was affected, and it has been established the fire started in a firing range.
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