Infoca orders the lockdown of two villages and withdraws ground personnel due to the Sierra Bermeja fire cloud

Just a few hours after the Junta de Andalucía's Level 2 Forest Fire plan was activated, the operational director of Infoca has ordered the lockdown of the villages of Genalguacil and Jubrique, two of the municipalities affected by the Sierra Bermeja fire.

This is due to the presence of a "pyrocumulus", a kind of cloud that is created by the fire itself.

The flames, the heat and the wind have combined to create a cloud that is full of incandescent material and embers which could rain down fire if it ‘bursts’.

The lockdown decision has been taken to protect the inhabitants of these towns given the adverse weather conditions that are likely to be experience in the next few hours.

Likewise, Infoca has withdrawn the majority of its ground personnel.

The state weather agency, Aemet, is forecasting is that gusts of wind from the west may reach 40 kilometres per hour.