MARBELLA – According to the latest estimate from forest firefighting service Infoca, the fire in Sierra Bermeja in southern Spain has reduced to ashes more than 3,500 hectares, mainly forest area. The fire has been under control since 9.00 am Friday.
Firefighters on the ground and from the air are still working hard to totally extinguish the smoldering fire. And thus control it completely. During Thursday evening, the last evacuees from the village centre of Benahavís were able to return to their homes. The same was true for the residents of the Benahavís Hills and Marbella Club urbanisations. And on Friday morning, the residents of Monte Mayor and Velerín Alto were also able to.
The burnt area is very close to the area that was completely burnt to ashes last September during a sixth-generation forest fire (one of the most severe types). This is evident from a map that the Ministry of Ecological Transition and Demographic Challenge has shared on Twitter.
Tibutes
Juanma Moreno, President of Andalucia Tweeted “the #IFPujerra is considered stabilised and the evacuated people will continue to progressively return home. Let’s be very careful, please. There is work ahead. Thanks to all the troops deployed for the admirable effort”.
Antonio Sanz Cabello, Deputy Minister of the Presidency, Public Administration and Interior of Andalucia paid tribute to the firefighters for their work. He said, “We can never be grateful enough for the exemplary work you do every day and even more so in situations as difficult as #IFPujerra. We are proud to have the best professionals with us”.
Carmen Crespo, Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Sustainable Development of the Government of Andalucia also thanked everyone involved. She said, “The #IFPujerra is not yet finished and there is still work ahead. A wide deployment of troops continues with the extinction work under the coordination of the @plan_INFOCA”.
Emergencias 112 also paid thanks. They Tweeted that first thing this morning, the transfer to their homes of the seven people with reduced mobility who remained in hotels for #IFPujerra had been completed. This was thanks to @DYAMalaga #CES061 @CREMalaga @policiandalucia for making it possible. They thanked everyone involved for their continual hard work and efforts to control this blaze.