Junta activates Level 1 of emergency plan after forest fire declared in Sierra de Mijas

The Junta's Plan Infoca specialist forest fire brigade said it was located in the El Higuerón zone and it has already despatched a plane coordinating helicopters that are tackling the blaze from the air.

The Andalusian regional government delegate in Malaga, Carmen Casero, activated Level 1 of the Forest Fire Emergency Plan at 1.25pm.

The Junta de Andalucía's spokesperson, Elías Bendodo, said that the Andalusian Emergency Group (GREA) has been activated and that nine aerial means and 70 ground troops are already working in the area. Bendodo reported that there some precautionary evacuations of residents Alhaurín de la Torre, Jarapalos, Lauro Golf and Villa Llanos de la Plata, as well as in the Osunillas area.

"We have mobilised all possible means to try stop it evolving badly. We have to take advantage of daylight hours of light and little wind to try to suffocate it," said Bendodo speaking in Malaga.

The Directorate-General for Traffic (DGT) advises that the A-368, which connects Mijas Pueblo with Benalmádena, is cut from kilometre 0 to 5 in both directions due to smoke and dust from the fire.

This is the second forest fire in Malaga province in just 24 hours. This morning the Infoca brigade declared the fire reported yesterday, Thursday, in Casabermeja to be under control. Helicopters and ground teams in the area continue their to work to fully extinguish it.