The high temperatures, close to 40 degrees, and the strong gusts of wind from the west at noon have caused the perfect storm. Almost simultaneously, three forest fires have set off alarms in three different municipalities on the Costa del Sol: Estepona, Mijas and Benahavís. All of them started early this afternoon and are currently active.
In the case of Esteponathe fire took place very close to the town center and the industrial estate, next to the Parque de las Mesas, specifically in an area of vegetation very close to the Beverly Hills development.
Firefighters from Estepona and Marbella were the first to go to put out this fire that has forced the urgent eviction of the houses that were closest, as well as the Las Mesas Sports Center. The City Council has enabled the Palacio de Congresos for those who need it.
From Infoca they have also sent five aerial means to the area: a super puma, a light heavy, one command and two FOCAS from the Ministry of Ecological Transition, from the ground they also work 45 forest firefighters, two operations technicians and two environmental agents, as well as a fire truck.
In Mijasthe Malaga delegate acting, Carmen Casero, has activated this afternoon level 1 of the Emergency Plan of the Infoca Plan due to a new fire -the third in just a few days- in the area of Majadilla del Muerto. Some 90 troopssix aerial resources, four operations technicians, three environmental agents, an extinguishing technician and five fire trucks have traveled to the affected area.
For his part in Benahavisthe fire started this afternoon in the place Guadalmina river. Two Infoca air vehicles and 22 forest firefighters, as well as a team of firefighters from Marbella, work intensely in the area.