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Date Published: 01/08/2024

Murcia wildfire: El Valle residents evacuated as countryside burns again

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The fire in central Murcia has burned up around 10 hectares of land already

Murcia wildfire: El Valle residents evacuated as countryside burns again

A new fire in the El Valle area of central Murcia has mobilised around 100 emergency personnel and meant several local residents have had to be evacuated from their homes.

An intense column of smoke, visible from across the city of Murcia, prompted over 225 calls to emergency services this Thursday August 1, starting at around 5.18pm. Some residents, fearing for their safety, left their homes as a precaution.

Pavoroso incendio Forestal ahora mismo en El Valle, Murcia. Un horror pic.twitter.com/9Y3zmHChRN
— Future Historian (@FutureHistoria1) August 1, 2024

The fire broke out in the El Sequén area of La Alberca, to the south of the city of Murcia, on the way to Corvera and El Valle Golf Resort.

Five helicopters, firefighters from Murcia, environmental agents, local police officers and forestry brigades were despatched to tackle the blaze. The fire’s proximity to residential areas heightened concerns, especially since it occurred near the site of a similar fire just weeks ago.

Also of interest: Wildfire hotspots detected in Corvera and Gea y Truyols

To facilitate access for emergency vehicles, the routes leading to the fire, located just three kilometres from the Fuensanta Sanctuary, were closed off.

📢 Colaboramos con @BomberosMurcia en la extinción de un incendio forestal en El Sequén, #Murcia.
Agradecemos la rápida intervención de todos los servicios de emergencia. pic.twitter.com/LLd0joUaQ4
— Policía Local Murcia (@MurciaPolicia) August 1, 2024

Authorities suspect the fire may have been started deliberately given that there have been over a dozen attempts to start fires in the same area since January.

The ensuing investigation will focus on whether the fire was set intentionally or resulted from negligence, with the latter gaining traction as there was only one focal point to the fire, unlike the multiple points often seen in arson cases.

The Region of Murcia has been on high alert for forest fires, with the Emergency Coordination Centre warning of extreme fire risk since early July. This latest fire adds to a summer of concern, with seven hectares of land burned in the Sierra de Altaona in mid-July. Authorities continue to search for the arsonist suspected of starting that fire.

As temperatures rise and weather conditions become more extreme, the risk of fires, many of them intentional, increases. The Infomur Fire Plan details and coordinates the resources to combat these fires, but prevention remains crucial.

Be very careful when putting out cigarettes, and never leave litter on the floor in rural areas where it could contribute to creating sparks.

Images: Defensa Forestal Murcia

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