2010-07-30

There have been lots of fires breaking out across the region during the last couple of weeks, although all have been contained successfully, usually just burning up a few hectares of scrub before fire-fighters manage to bring them under control.

Fortunately to date there have been no serious repercussions or injuries as a result of any of the fires, as the regional government has put vast resources at the disposal of firefighters and increased vigilance patrols to try and prevent a serious fire spreading out of control.

The wet spring has meant that hillsides are covered with crispy brown weeds just waiting for a spark to set them off, so a military firefighting helicopter has been stationed in the region and military firefighters kept on standby for the dangerous month to come.

Thank you to Caroline, who sent in these pictures of a fire which occurred yesterday in Morata. She said that it started as a very small fire which the farmers were trying to put out on their own with buckets of water, which the wind caught and it raced off up a bone dry hillside.

2 fire engines, 2 helicopters, 15 firemen, 2 police bikes and a police car attended to deal with the fire and it took about 2 hours to bring it under control, with the helicopters scooping up water from a nearby deposito, an incredibly skilled and dangerous job, then 4 fire dampening specialists stayed behind for another couple of hours checking that the fire was completely out and could not re-kindle.

 

Visitors to the region may not be aware of the following laws which are in force at the moment, so please bear these in mind, it might prevent you from receiving  a nasty fine

 

No barbeques, or cooking fires of any description may be used in any of the park areas, particularly the natural areas such as the Sierra Espuna, even the constructed barbeques are not to be used until October after the autumn rains have started. This includes the use of camping stoves.

 

No bonfires or burning of agricultural prunings or garden waste is permitted until the autumn.

 

It is illegal to burn dry banks as a way of clearing weeds, yes, everyone does it, and we'll probably find out that this is what started this particular fire, but if you're caught, it's not worth it, borrow a strimmer.

 

Barbeques and fires on beaches are illegal, yes, everyone does it, but it'll be just your luck to be the one who gets fined.

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