The strong easterly wind complicates a forest fire on the outskirts of Tarifa

The strong easterly wind that blows in Tarifa (Cádiz) is complicating the efforts to extinguish a fire that broke out this afternoon in a forest area on the outskirts of the Andalusian town. The fire, which originated in an area known as Mount La Peña, has led firefighters to advise around twenty families to leave their homes to avoid being affected by the smoke, although they have not been officially evicted, as explained by the mayor of the town, Jose Antonio Santos. The gusts of wind in the Strait, of up to 60 kilometers per hour, complicate the extinction efforts.

The alert for the fire was declared after 1:00 p.m., although it was at 6:00 p.m. when the advisor to the Presidency of the Government of Andalusia and director of the Infoca Plan, Antonio Sanz, activated the pre-emergency phase of the Forest Fire Emergency Plan. of the community. This phase does not yet involve the eviction of homes, according to sources from the Board in Cádiz. The people who have abandoned their homes, in the area known as Cuatro Molinos and Casas de Porro, “have been invited to move away because of the smoke,” as explained by Santos. However, the Tariff mayor has shown his confidence that they will be able to return to their homes over the next few hours, since the front that affects that area “seems to be controlled.”

The strong easterly wind that has hit the province of Cádiz since Saturday and that keeps the yellow alert activated in the Strait is complicating the efforts to extinguish a fire that is affecting lowland forest areas and agricultural lands on different fronts. In addition, it has forced the eviction of animals and livestock, as Santos added. Firefighters from the Firefighters Consortium of the Province of Cádiz and seven groups of forest firefighters, four fire reinforcement brigades, up to 17 aerial means (including helicopters, airplanes and seaplanes) and five fire engines, deployed by the Infoca Plan, are deployed in the area. . In the deployment, in which the mayor of Tarifa is present, members of the Civil Guard, Local Police and health services are also participating.

The causes of the fire and the total extent of the flames have not been revealed. “It will be hundreds of hectares,” the Tarifa councilor dares to assess, who has expressed hope that the decrease in wind speed that is being experienced at dusk will help contain the different outbreaks. The column of smoke from the fire is visible from different points of the Strait, such as from the Tarifa town itself or Valdevaqueros beach, according to local media. Europasur.

The Junta de Andalucía presented this Monday in Almonte (Huelva) the fire prevention and extinguishing campaign of the Infoca Plan which, this year, will have more firefighters and more money for extinguishing fires. The device, which will last until October 15, will have 4,700 troops and will have fewer aircraft (in total, 35), after the contract that would have allowed up to seven more aerial vehicles could not be awarded. In total, the deployment has a budget of 244 million, 11% more than the previous year.

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