Spain deploys military against wild blazes, evacuates 2,500

Soldiers were deployed Sunday in southeastern Spain to join the battle against a major wildfire that is burning for a fourth day, invigorated by stray embers that sparked a new hot spot. The blaze in Malaga province has destroyed nearly 7,000 hectares (17,300 acres) of forest and prompted fresh evacuations, bringing the total number of residents displaced to around 2,500.

According to AP, officials on September 12 evacuated nearly 1,500 residents from the towns of Jubrique, Genalguacil and four other villages. More than 1,000 other people have also been removed from the areas around the resort town of Estepona. As per reports, Plan Infoca, the Andalusia region’s agency in charge of firefighting efforts, described Sunday as a “key day” for bring the wildfire under control. In a bid to contain the wildfires, Spain has sent a military unit to a Costa del Sol resort. An emergency brigade was also sent to the military base of Morón to join over 3,000 firefighters and 41 water-dropping aircraft battling the blaze. A combination of hot and dry temperatures with strong winds created a perfect storm, turning the blaze that started late Wednesday made the situation worse. Andalusia’s regional fire agency said that nearly 365 firefighters are currently tackling the wildfires. They are also being supported by 41 aircraft and 25 vehicles. In Spain, over 75,000 hectares (186,000 acres) of forest and bush areas have burned in the first eight months of the year, according to Spain’s Ministry of Ecological Transition.