Charlie Smith
AT least 50 people have been evacuated from their homes and an emergency plan has been enacted as a wildfire continues to rage in Estepona.
Around 170 firefighters have also been dispatched to deal with the blaze, which began at around 12:30pm today.
There are also 22 different air vehicles involved in tackling the flames, including eight 1000-litre capacity helicopters and four cargo planes.
Meanwhile, five people have been treated for smoke poisoning, minor burns and bruises, but they were not hospitalised.
At 5:00pm the Government enacted ‘level 1’ of the provincial phase of the Emergency Plan for Forest Fires of the Autonomous Community. At midnight the fire was still blazing with the sky seen glowing as far away as Sotogrande.
This precaution requires the protection of people as well as non-forest assets.
Policia Local officers then proceeded to force residents of the El Padron area to leave their homes.
Emergency crews are expecting changes in wind direction to place some 17 properties near the Padron River and in the La Tejilla area at greater risk of fire.
Estepona Mayor Jose Maria Garcia Urbano has been coordinating the emergency services close by to the site.
Nearby to the affected area on the edge of the Sierra Bermeja park are rare ancient pinsapo trees.
The species, which are at risk of going up in flames, are among three remaining zones of the plant left in Europe.
It comes as 8,000 people have been evacuated in Gran Canaria after wildfires began on Saturday.
