The Junta has recommended that all firework displays be cancelled because of the present heatwave and the acommpanying high risk of fire.

Following a meeting with the Centro Operativo Regional del Infoca, the Junta approached the Federación Andaluza de Municipios y Provincias (FAMP) with recommendations to follow, amongst which was a call to cancel all the planned firework displays for this weekend.

The fact is that the 15th, Día de la Asunción de la Virgen, is the big day for dozens of towns across the Spain, especially in Andalucía.

Having witnessed the voracious forest fires in Turkey and Greece, Spain is eyeing its forestlands warily and several administrations are taking preventative steps. Infoca, for example, will be carrying out aerial patrols over nation parkland and other protected areas within Andalucía.

Nine aircraft will be used for this task, carrying a full load of water and fire retardants just in case they come across a fire in progess. Furthermore, the 198 lookouts on top of mountains or on high towers in the middle of forests will be fully manned.

But the Junta de Andalucía is also appealing directly to the general public to be extra careful in the countryside and should they see any sign of smoke, to report it immediately to 112. If you take a photo, make sure that you have noted the time and your location at the moment of taking the shot – most mobile phones provide that information automatically.

Editorial comment: this is a recommendation only. I sent the Almuñécar Councillor for Citizen Safety a whatsapp asking whether the firework display has been cancelled but he has not yet responded. Until the Town Hall announces a cancellation, the fireworks on Sunday are still on.

Update 10.40h: I have just spoken to Councillor Robles and so far no decision to cancel has been taken, therefore as things stand, the firework display will go ahead.

(News: Granada, Andalucia)