Its clear that Malaga have not done what they must do, protect the hundreds of private homes in the forest fire risk zone who not have any protection plan. You only have to glance at recent aerial photos taken of the province of Malaga to see how in the last few years houses and residential estates have sprung up quite literally like toadstools: in an uncontrolled fashion and in or very close to forested areas. At the presentation of this year’s Infoca forest fire fighting campaign, the head of environmental affairs at the Junta de Andalucía, Cinta Castillo, spoke of 680 residential areas in the province of Malaga that are located in the so-called ‘interphase’ zone (between forested and urbanized areas, or even inside woodland) which puts them in the high fire risk category. Many of the properties in question are illegal only makes matters worse as these do not have their own forest fire protection plans.

Marbella has still not a local emergency plan.

Marbella, Mijas and Estepona, almost the entire western Costa del Sol that borders mountainous areas, and the Genal Valley are the black spots when it comes to forest fires. We all remember past fires in Mijas where the proximity of some properties to forested areas has put human life in danger and meant that the fire fighting work had to focus on saving people and property.

Castillo announced last week that her department has put an expert at the disposition of residential estates to help draw up forest fire protection plans (and the ten or so local authorities that have still not produced a local emergency plan).

Infoca offered the example of two residential areas in Mijas that have set up a mini fire station with a small tanker lorry containing 500 liters of water at the ready.Castillo explained that this summer Malaga was on maximum alert for forest fire as the abundant rainfall in recent months has produced a lot of pasture which burns quickly when dry. As usual the risk depends on the weather conditions with strong, warm winds and low humidity being the most dangerous combination.

Malaga region has a good backup for fire.

Recent statistics are favorable. Last year Malaga lost a total of 245 hectares to forest fire, not a high figure bearing in mind that in 2001 600 hectares burned in one night alone in Mijas. So far this year there have been seven small outbreaks of fire, each damaging less than a hectare.

Nevertheless Malaga is always a forest fire risk area in the summer and this year’s Infoca campaign boasts 642 people at the ready. Of them 452 are forest fire specialists and 152 are staff from the Environment Department. They have the back-up of 2,992 volunteers who can be called upon if required. Three Junta de Andalucia helicopters are based in the province, at the Forestry Defence Centres in Ronda and Colmenar and at the specialist Brica base in Cártama. Meanwhile two amphibious planes supplied by the Environment Ministry wait at Malaga Airport.