Spain forest fire forces hundreds from homes

Officials said up to 300 people had been forced to leave their homes as a forest fire ripped through the popular tourist province of Malaga, part of the famous Costa del Sol. Helicopters and planes were called in to help firefighters tackle the blaze, which had been whipped up by warm winds.

“The fire broke out in high temperatures, winds of more than 20 kilometres per hour (12 mph), and a break-out zone made up of thicket and pine groves,” said a statement by the Andalusia region’s firefighters.

The authorities said the blaze, which has affected parts of Mijas, Marbella and Ojen, started at about 8.30pm on Sunday in the Entrerrios area of Mijas. Andalusian regional government spokesman Agustin Perez said no one had been hurt in the blaze and that most of the evacuees had since been able to return because the strong winds fanning the flames had shifted.

However, more than 200 firefighters and 17 aircraft continued to battle the fire yesterday in a large hillside area of pine trees and scrubland. The regional government said Marbella was not threatened.

The picturesque town Mijas, near to the resort of Marbella, is a tourist magnet renowned for its narrow streets with whitewashed homes.

Marbella itself is also a popular destination for well-heeled holidaymakers with bars and restaurants nestling around its marina, and it is home to a large British expat population.

An investigation is under way into what caused the blaze, with Andalucia’s councillor for the environment, Jose Juan Diaz Trillo, suggesting that it may have been started deliberately.

It is understood that several homes and at least 1,000 acres of land on the Costa del Sol have been destroyed, although some reports have claimed that the fire has affected more than 2,200 acres in total.