The rapid response of firefighters and a helicopter quickly extinguished a fire in the La Traviesa area, near La Florida, in Calasparra in the early evening yesterday.
The helicopter flew repeatedly between the river Segura, where it refilled with water, and the site of the fire.
Nexonr readers living in La Florida informed us that by around 8.30pm there was no smoke from the fire but the helicopter continued to damp down the area.
Following the torrential rain and the the blistering heat of the last week the countryside around Calasparra, and of much of Spain, has been transformed into a tinderbox and massive forest fires in Zamora, Navarra and Valencia have already destroyed vast areas of countryside. Thanks to the rapid response of our fire fighters, who had already been called out twice in the last five days, this story was not repeated in Calasparra yesterday although some 500 metres of countryside below the «tunelinos» was burned.
The emergency services continue to call for extra precautions to prevent fires and respect for our countryside. Some 90% of fires in Spain can be laid at the feet of humans, either through negligence or are deliberately set.
There is currently a ban on lighting fires so if you see smoke please call 112 emergency services immediately.
The photo is by Digital Television Calasparra.
