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Date Published: 30/05/2022

ARCHIVED - Hikers arrested in connection with Granada forest fire that raged overnight in Cerro de San Miguel

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Andalusian firefighters managed to bring the blaze under control early Monday morning, May 30

<span style='color:#780948'>ARCHIVED</span> - Hikers arrested in connection with Granada forest fire that raged overnight in Cerro de San Miguel

Two hikers aged 18 and 19 have been arrested on suspicion of starting a forest fire in the Granada municipality of Cerro de San Miguel on Sunday evening that raged through the night until firefighters managed to bring the flames under control at 8am on Monday May 30.

The fire started around 4.45pm and five helicopters, a coordination plane, three fire engines and two Brica units, together with almost 100 personnel, spent 15 hours extinguishing the blaze, according to sources from the prevention and extinction of forest fires unit in Andalusia (Infoca Plan).

In addition, the Forest Fire Medical Unit (UMIF) and a Mobile Meteorology and Transmission Unit were activated. Gusts of up to 50km per hour, 90% humidity, high-voltage cabling and the steep terrain hampered the firefighting effort somewhat and around 2am additional aerial support was drafted in.

🔴#IFGranada, ACTIVO.
1.- El DT @MedioAmbAND, Manuel Fco. García, acude al PMA.
2.- Imagen del incendio desde el 🛩️ ACO4.
3 y 4.- Miembros de la Brica realizan tareas de extinción.
🚨Casi un centenar de profesionales, 6 aeronaves y 3 autobombas están desplegados en el incendio. pic.twitter.com/EBOp3DDWR6
— INFOCA (@Plan_INFOCA) May 29, 2022

There were also huge concerns about the safety of neighbouring properties in the Albayzín and Sacromonte, although fortunately "there were no evacuations".

Cerro de San Miguel Mayor, Francisco Cuenca, has visited the area on Monday to assess the damage.

Two hikers, a 19-year-old male and 18-year-old girl have been arrested on suspicion of starting the fire, according to the National Police, and are due to appear in court to face arson charges on Monday after a witness reported seeing them lighting a barbecue in the area around lunchtime on Sunday.

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Image: Infoca

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