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A wildfire that broke out in the Sierra Espuña Natural Park in the Region of Murcia on Sunday March 29 has been brought under control after burning through 400 hectares of protected land and forcing the evacuation of a scout group of 80 children during what firefighters described as a very difficult night.

 

The fire started at around midday on Sunday in the Llano de las Cabras area near Totana, spreading rapidly along a two-kilometre front across the municipalities of Totana and Aledo.

 

Strong gusts of wind drove the flames through dense scrubland and pine forest, creating exactly the kind of conditions that make wildfires so difficult to control. The authorities quickly activated Level 2 of the Infomur emergency plan as the situation escalated.

 

With several farms in the path of the advancing blaze, emergency services moved quickly to evacuate the Caruana farm, where a scout group of 80 children and 14 adult monitors had been staying. A nearby livestock farm was also evacuated as a precaution.

 

Bringing the fire under control required a massive response. Regional president Fernando López Miras confirmed that more than 100 personnel were deployed on the ground, including forest brigades, consortium firefighters and Civil Protection teams, supported by four helicopters. As the situation intensified, 52 members of the Military Emergency Unit were also called in to help contain the perimeter.

 

The terrain itself added to the challenge. The Llano de las Cabras area is covered in shrub and pine, providing plenty of fuel for a fast-moving fire, and the uneven landscape made access difficult for crews working to hold the line.

 

The blaze is now stabilised, although teams are remaining on site to cool the ground and keep watch for any new outbreaks. The Region of Murcia is staying on alert, with dry and windy conditions forecast for the coming days. An investigation into how the fire started remains open.

 

 

Images: CARM