- EDITIONS: Spanish News Today Murcia Today Alicante Today
Date Published: 29/11/2021
ARCHIVED - Nerja forest fire forces closure of N-340
30 firefighters with aerial assistance battled the blaze in Maro-Cerro Gordo, Málaga province, at the weekend
A huge forest fire which broke out in the natural area of Maro-Cerro Gordo on the outskirts of Nerja, and forced the closure of part of the N-340 on Sunday morning, has been brought under control.
Thirty firefighters on the ground and in the air along with environmental officers were involved in tackling the blaze which started in an agricultural area surrounded by numerous greenhouses at around 10am.
But their efforts were hampered by strong winds in the area, according to Infoca, the Andalucía regional government’s body for the Prevention and Extinction of Forest Forest Fires, which confirmed on Twitter that the flames were under control just after 6am on Monday November 29.
🔴 #IFNerja, controlado. Orbitamos la zona quemada a bordo del Súper Puma KA70.
— INFOCA (@Plan_INFOCA) November 29, 2021
El subdirector del COP, 2 agentes de medio ambiente, 2 técnicos de operaciones, 20 #BomberosForestales, 2 autobombas y 1 helicóptero trabajan en remate y liquidación. pic.twitter.com/uViV60VYXM
The fire forced the closure of the N-340 at kilometre 297, which has since been reopened, and around 20 firefighters and environmental officers are still at the site clearing and safeguarding the area.
The alarm was initially raised at 10am, and by 2pm, the flames appeared to be under control, having destroyed four hectares of avocado and apple orchards, reed beds and shrubbery on the slopes known as the ‘cliffs of Maro’.
However, around 4pm, the alarm was raised again after strong winds rekindled the flames burning a further four hectares of land.
By 7pm, the fire was advancing uncontrollably through the pine forest near Maro tower, towards the area known as the Cuesta de la María, in the direction of the Carrizal and Molino de Papel ravine.
According to Infoca, “the situation forced the old N-340 to be cut off so that the residents of the area of the River de la Miel and other farms in the protected area were able to leave in the direction of La Herradura, Granada”.
There have been no injuries reported, and a probe into the cause of the fire continues.
Andalucía is the autonomous community that has had the most forest fires in 2021, though they have caused extensive damage nationally.
Image: Infoca
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