JubRIQue (Spain): The army was deployed on Sunday at Southeastern Spain to join the battle against a large fire burned for the fourth day, shouted by wild coals that triggered a new hot spot.
Blaze in Malaga Province has destroyed nearly 7,000 hectares (17,300 hectares) of forests and encouraged fresh evacuation, so the total number of residents moved around 2,500.
Plan Infoca, agent of the Andalusian region responsible for the efforts of the fire department, explained Sunday as a “key day” because it brought a controlled recurrence.
Authorities on Sunday preventively removing nearly 1,500 residents from Jubrique cities, genalguacil and four other villages.
More than 1,000 others have been evacuated before weekends of areas around the city of Estepono resort, which are popular among tourists and foreign expatriates.
The emergency brigade traveled from Morón’s military base, in Southern Spain, to join more than 300 firefighters and 41 water drop aircraft struggled against the fire.
Stretched strength.
But firefighters like Rafael Fanega, who said the fire was still “uncontrolled,” called for more boots on the ground to fight against fire.
“I didn’t see enough personnel deployed,” Fanega told the Associated Press, talking at Jubrique.
After being evacuated.
“Some might see it differently, but that’s how I see it.” Some progress was seen on Saturday, when the authorities said better weather conditions had helped them stabilize the fire perimeter, which allowed them to focus on four hotspots.
The combination of hot and dry temperatures with strong winds created a perfect storm, turning the fire which began on Wednesday night to “hungry monster,” Alejandro García, Deputy Head of Operations Plan Infoca, said earlier this week.
“The potential and strength of this fire is not unusual for the type of Blaz we usually see in this country,” García told reporters on Sunday.
The firefighting body released an air image that showed high smoke feathers emerged from a rough terrain, which he said made crew access on the ground difficult.
The 44-year-old firefighter died on Thursday while trying to extinguish the fire.
Authorities say they have proof of combustion and are investigating.
Forest fires are common in southern Europe during hot and dry summer months.
But it has been very much around the Mediterranean Sea this year, deteriorating by intense August heat waves.
In Spain, more than 75,000 hectares (186,000 hectares) of forest and bushes have been burned in the first eight months of this year, according to the Spanish ecological transition ministry.
Climate scientists say there is little doubt that climate change from coal combustion, oil and natural gas encourage more extreme events, such as heat waves, droughts, forest fires, floods and storms.
Spain spread the military against the wildfire, evacuating 2,500
