We might be in the middle of winter but the present drought condition are a cause for concern with respect to fires.

GENA-Ecologistas en Acción have contacted the Councillor for the Environment at Nerja Town Hall to complain about the existence of “numerous bonfires” for burning cuttings in both the Nerja and Maro vegas.

According to the ecologists, “Precisely on Tuesday there was a fire in the Barranco de Maro caused by sparks coming from welding work on the bridge over the N-340 where labourers are working on the water mains (cañería de agua),” read their communiqué, continuing, “The fire could have grown quickly to menace the Parque Natural de Tejeda y Almijara.”

The communiqué also mentioned that yesterday morning they witnessed at least eight bonfires just in the Maro area and as many again in the Pago de Las Mercedes on the Vega de Nerja. None of them, the ecologists consider, were respecting the Junta de Andalucía’s regulations concerning fires near wooded areas.

As for the Councillor for the Environment, Javier Rodríguez (PP), he responded to their communiqué saying that officials at the Environmental Department belonging to the Junta, had  removed the Town Hall’s capacity to regulate bonfires for vegetal waste from trees, etc. Therefore, until further notice it is not their responsibility.

(News/Noticias: Nerja, Axarquia, Costa del Sol, Malaga, Andalucia – Source & Photo: E. Cabezas)