Smoke from the fire in Mijas. Salvador Salas

Alcaucín wildfire declared controlled and the one in Mijas is stablised

Firefighters on the ground are continuing their efforts to extinguish the two wildfires this Saturday evening

Isabel Méndez

Malaga

Saturday, 22 April 2023, 19:37 | Updated 22:45h.

Two forest fires were declared this Saturday evening, 22 April, in Malaga province, one in Mijas and another in Alcaucín.

The first, in Mijas, started at around 6pm. Initially, a medium-heavy helicopter (Bell 212), a fire engine, four groups of forest firefighters, an operations technician and an environment agent are working at the scene, according to the Plan Infoca specialist brigade via its Twitter account. Approximately an hour and a half later, the team was expanded and a Brica crew joined the efforts, two Super Puma helicopters as well as two seaplanes and on the ground and there were five groups of forest firefighters, three operations technicians and two environment agents. At 9.20pm, Infoca reported it was stabilised and the ground operation continued working to control it.

The one in Alcaucín, declared at almost the same time, was tackled by a Super Puma helicopter, a group of forest firefighters, a Brica brigade, an operations technician, a fire engine and an environment agent. At 8.20pm Infoca considered it was controlled, although teams remained in the area to fully extinguish it.

Across Andalucía, there is a medium fire for forest fires, with burning and barbecues prohibited until at least 24 April due to high temperatures, with no significant rain.