Infoca declares Sierra de Mijas forest fire extinguished, some twenty days after it started

It was one of the largest forest fires, so far, in Andalucía this summer and its evolution kept the municipalities of Mijas, Alhaurín de la Torre and especially Alhaurín el Grande on edge, as the flames were fueled by dry vegetation, high temperatures and the easterly wind.

Although the Infoca specialists considered the fire was under control five days after it started, until now it had not been officially considered extinguished. The existence of hot spots did not allow it to be declared completely out and that is why Infoca has remained vigilant in the area since then until the director of extinction deemed it appropriate.

The fire that started in El Higuerón forced the activation of Level 1 of the Forest Fire Emergency Plan and affected more than 1,800 hectares, the vast majority forest land. After the blaze started, some nine residential developments were evacuated: Ardalejo, Buenavista, San Jorge, La Chíchara, Pescadores, El Chorro and the upper part of Doña Paca, in Alhaurín el Grande; and Lauro Golf and Pinos de Alhaurín, in Alhaurín de la Torre. In total, some 2,200 homes were evacuated as a precaution to ensure the safety of residents. Some twenty aircraft and 400 personnel were also involved in the extinction work.