At five this morning the Motril Fire Station alarm went off; 112 had received a call from a man to say there was a fire in the Huerta Carrasco area.

The night-shift crew turned out and sped to this conflictive area of Motril only to find out that it was somebody’s idea of a joke – a hoax call.

But this is not new because in the two weeks of lock down they have received no fewer than four such calls from the same barrio, with this one bringing the total up to five.

The authorities believe that the same person is behind them all, who always uses the same screened number. When they find out who it is, he will be charged with fix counts of public disorder.

Editorial comment: the idiom “to cry wolf” comes to mind, which could have tragic consequences if the fire department reacts with less alacrity believing it is a hoax.

Perhaps under the present circumstances, the abuse of such emergency services should receive a much tougher retribution than under normal circumstances?

(News: Motril, Costa Tropical, Granada, Andalucia)