The wildfire in the Sierra Tejeda-Almijara Natural Park in Competa, which destroyed 200 hectares of forest and forced the precautionary evacuation of around 600 people, was ‘no accident’ according to José Luis Ruiz Espejo, a delegate of the Junta de Andalucia in Málaga.
However, the delegate made these remarks pending the results of research to be carried out in the area once the fire has been declared extinct. The delegate appears to believe that the fire was either intentional or the result of poor agricultural practice.
In the early hours of Monday, 98 people in the Llano Alberto, Las Colmenillas, Barranco Pérez and Cruz del Monte urbanisations, the areas most affected and threatened by the fire, were allowed to return to their homes following the stablisation of the blaze.
None of the homes were damaged on the interior but many suffered damage to gardens, pergolas and porches. In total, some 150 homes had to be evacuated as a precautionary measure.
Meanwhile, the Minister of Environment, Maria José Serrano, visited the town to assure the residents that the Junta de Andalucia would ‘spare nothing’ to provide support and regenerate the damaged area, although this would have to wait until technical reports have been prepared on the effects of the fire on the flora and the actions to be carried out have been identified.
In other words, don’t hold your breath.