Lorraine Williamson
Wildfires in Andalucía have forced evacuations in parts of Málaga and Almería, as emergency crews continue to battle two serious blazes late on Thursday, July 9.
The fires, affecting the Estepona-Benahavís area on the Costa del Sol and Los Gallardos in Almería, come after several days of extreme summer heat and heightened fire risk across large parts of Spain.
Homes evacuated near Estepona and Benahavís
In Málaga province, a forest fire declared on Thursday afternoon between Estepona and Benahavís led to the preventive evacuation of homes and the temporary closure of the AP-7 motorway.
The blaze was reported in the Montemayor area and moved towards Benahavís, close to residential zones. Cadena SER reported that more than 100 people were evacuated, including around 96 people from the Four Seasons apartments, while homes in the Parque Botánico Country Club area and nearby scattered properties were also affected by evacuation measures.
The AP-7 was closed for several hours because of the proximity of the flames and smoke, before reopening shortly before 9.00 pm. Emergency services asked residents and drivers not to approach the affected area and to follow official instructions.
Emergency phase activated
The Plan Infoca emergency phase was raised to situation 1 because of the possible risk to people and non-forest property. This level can be activated when an incident may require protective measures for residents or additional resources beyond standard firefighting operations.
According to reports citing Infoca, 110 ground personnel, four fire engines, a medical unit and 13 aircraft were deployed in the Málaga fire. A forward command post was also set up in Benahavís, while the municipal sports centre was made available for evacuated residents.
Almería fire forces Bédar evacuation
A second major fire in Andalucía was declared in Los Gallardos, Almería, where flames prompted the preventive evacuation of nearby Bédar and several surrounding settlements.
AS reported that the fire, believed to have started after an overhead electricity cable fell, left one man injured with burns and caused road closures. The Junta de Andalucía also raised the emergency level to situation 1 as the fire advanced.
The evacuation affected the main village of Bédar and nearby areas, including Almocáizar, Fuente del Albarico, Los Pinos, La Serena and Pinar de Bédar. Local officials described difficult evacuation logistics because of narrow access roads and the fast-moving nature of the fire.
More than 200 firefighters involved
Across the Málaga and Almería fires, more than 200 firefighters and around 30 aerial resources were reported to be involved on Thursday evening.
El País reported that the Los Gallardos fire had forced the evacuation of around 50 people in several zones, while the Estepona-Benahavís fire had required more than 100 professionals and 13 aerial resources. The Andalusian emergency agency urged the public to take extreme care and avoid affected areas.
The fires come during one of the most sensitive periods of the year for Spain’s emergency services, when dry vegetation, strong winds and high temperatures can cause flames to spread rapidly. Andalucía has already faced several wildfire alerts this summer, with emergency teams repeatedly warning that residents should avoid unnecessary travel near active fire zones.
Residents urged to follow official updates
Anyone close to the affected areas should follow instructions from 112 Andalucía, Plan Infoca, Guardia Civil, local town halls and road authorities. Drivers should check live traffic information before travelling, particularly on routes near Estepona, Benahavís, Los Gallardos and Bédar.
The situation remains active and may change overnight. Further updates are expected from emergency services as firefighting crews continue work on the ground and monitor conditions through the night.