Fire Spreads through Benalmadena

Up to 250 residents of Benalmadena were forced to evacuate their homes after a wildfire tore through nearby woodland. The blaze started early on Thursday morning and by 10am police informed locals that they would need to leave their homes.

Over a hundred firefighters from Benalmádena, Torremolinos, Mijas and Fuengirola helped to tackle the blaze which left four gardens badly damaged and destroyed two cars. A fire helicopter was also used to stop the fire from spreading towards the tracks of the Cercánia, the Costa del Sol’s busy coastal rail service.

The nature of the terrain, with holiday homes dotted throughout wild scrubland made the fire difficult to control.

It is believed the fire started in the Cerro del Piojo area but the exact cause has not yet been established.