Here in Andalucía, starting yesterday, the 1st of June, you cannot light a BBQ or open fires in the countryside, without getting fined until your eyes bleed.

This prohibition will remain in force until the 15th of October and even applies when you’re in a picnic area where they have places for BBQs.

If you are caught lighting a BBQ in the countryside, you can be fined between 60 and 3,000 euros.

You will also notice that many of the tracks leading through wooded areas now have chains across them to stop you using them. This is because in extremely dry conditions just the heat from an exhaust pipe can start a fire.

Land owners (farmers) cannot burn cuttings – some lunatics will go ahead and do it with the result that another forest disappears.

In just the first five months of 2021, infoca was called out to extinguish 138 hill fires across Andalucía. Most of them were caught early, 82%, whereas 17.4% actually developed into bigger fires requiring air support and extensive human and material resources.

As for the damage caused by these fires, 1,360 hectares were consumed, 296 of which were forest land.

(News: Andalucia)