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A nasty image, but the first that came to mind when I took this photo. I’m told that the Los Gallardos sports centre has been opened as a temporary base for evacuees, and that free beds, food and water are available there.
Photo taken at 20:40, you can clearly see the flames as they crest over the top of the hills behind Bedar.
Infoca, the forest fire people, confirm that since this afternoon they have had the Bedar fire as a Category 1 fire due to the seriousness and proximity to urban centres. Originally just a couple of helicopters and a spotter plane were deployed, but as the fire grew additional units were mobilised from across the region. A total of 16 aerial units continue to combat the fire, all available units in the area, and a total Continue reading Bedar fire continues as Category 1 confirms INFOCA
At 18:30 the fire is still raging in Bedar, despite the best efforts of the fire forces. It appears to be raging around the epicentre, and a light breeze is feeding it. Despite the fact that the wind is blowing from Turre towards the fire, we are getting a lot of ash falling on us, showing that higher up winds are blowing the opposite way.
The fire has been much reduced. Local media reports that a total of 14 air units are working on extinguishing the fires, and over 50 specialist control firemen from across the area are on the ground. Units of Protección Civil from Los Gallardos, Garrucha, Mojácar, Cuevas del Almanzora & Pulpí have arrived, as have Local Police, Guardia Civil units and forest fire experts from Almería. Air units are believed to be 8 helicopters, three ground Continue reading Fire continues but much more localised
More fires in the area have been confirmed, and I’m told that there are delays on the motorway near Antas due to a fire raging next to the motorway. Police are controlling traffic. There is also a big plume of smoke from a field outside Vera. A Spanish journalist says that about 50 people have been evacuated from their homes in Bedar by police and are at Los Gallardos. Photos of Bedar taken at 16:15.
A large fire fighting plane has now joined the two helicopters, as the fire appears to have raged up again, but they are now making inroads into the blaze. I can see some large gouts of fires, not sure if that’s trees or… a house? Photos taken 15:30, but delayed because the website ran out of bandwidth due to the interest in the photos 🙂
As the wind dies away, it seems that El Pinar may be safe from the flames as they retreat into the next valley. Photos taken at 14:50. Police confirm that all the roads in that area are closed due to the fire, and that people are only allowed through depending on the conditions. They are asking people not to congregate at the entrance to the Bedar road to allow emergency vehicles through.
Seems to be avoiding Bedar now, the fire is surrounding El Pinar and heading over the hills towards Serena. You can clearly see the flames through the smoke, and at one point the flames roared up a hill behind El Pinar. Taken at 14:30.
In just over twenty minutes, you can see how the fire raged across the valley and is now reaching El Pinar