Andalucian Wildfire Rages Causes Firefighter Death

A 44-year-old firefighter has died and hundreds evacuated as a massive wildfire continues around the town of Estepona in the province of Malaga.

The firefighter has been named as Carlos Martínez Haro, a father of two from Almeria.

The blaze is believed to have been started deliberately started around 9:30 p.m on Wednesday 8th September and  has since ravaged some 5,000 hectares of the densely forested Sierra Bermeja.

The situation has improved in the last 24 hours as the strong winds dropped and more resources added to contain the 41 kilometre perimeter blaze.

More than 500 emergency personnel have been deployed to the zone as well as 30 fire engines and 40 firefighting aircraft mobilized to douse the flames.

The regional authorities have also taken the precaution of cutting traffic to and from the villages of Genalguacil and Jubrique, and warned residents to stay inside because of the dangers from the huge thick cloud of smoke.

Yesterday, September 11th the regional president Juanma Mereno sounded and optimistic note saying: ” weather conditions will bring a respite to those battling the fire for the fourth day”.

The regional head also vowed to bring the arsonists reponsible and that, ” we will hunt down the killers.”

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