Only the rapid intervention of the Motril Fire Service, backed by a around ten Protección Civil volunteers, the Motril Policía Nacional and Local prevented the advancing flames from devouring the extensive spread of greenhouses, as well as cortijos, above Carchuna.

Two heavy urban fire engines and a water tanker made their way up onto the old Puntalón-Carchuna road, where the fire had broken out about 01.00h. The first task was to evacuate the cortijos in the line of the advancing flames, fanned by stronger winds in the area.

The firemen made the road the defensive line to prevent the fire from crossing it near the area known as La Trinchera. On the other side were the greenhouses and cortijos.

A little later the fire crews were reinforced by the arrival of the Infoca crews with their heavy, off-road fire engines. Before dawn the fire was out but not dead, necessitating the presence of firemen to prevent it bursting back into life.

With the coming of daylight the damage was calculated at around ten hectares of mountain shrub. Although the cause of the fire is still not known, fire-crew officials suggest that it was probably ‘man made’ in its origin.

(News: Carchuna, Costa del Sol, Granada, Andalucia)