A wildfire declared this Monday in the municipal district of Grazalema (Cádiz) has forced the activation of emergency phase in operational situation 1 of the Infoca Plan due to the risk to people and property. The evolution of the flames has also led to the preventive evacuation of the Hotel Fuerte and several homes near the fire's origin, while extinction efforts continue.
The fire originated in the El Alamillo area, a zone of high environmental value located in the surroundings of the Sierra de Grazalema. Since the first alerts, the operation deployed by the Infoca Plan has mobilized a significant device formed by a dozen aerial resources, including helicopters and planes, in addition to more than 70 ground personnel, water trucks, heavy machinery, and a medical unit to try to stop the advance of the flames.
As a preventive measure, the authorities have evacuated the guests and workers of the hotel establishment, as well as residents of different rural areas nearby. Likewise, the A-372 road, which connects Grazalema with Ronda, remains closed to traffic to facilitate the work of the emergency teams and guarantee the safety of the population. A space has been set up in the municipality to assist evacuated people if necessary.
The Junta de Andalucía has explained that the declaration of operational situation 1 responds to the potential risk that the fire poses to the population and infrastructure, although, for the moment, no personal injuries have been reported. The authorities have asked for prudence from the residents and have urged them to avoid travel in the area while extinction efforts continue.
The fire occurs on a day marked by high temperatures and a high risk of forest fires in a large part of the interior of Andalusia, meteorological conditions that complicate the work of the teams deployed on the ground and favor the spread of the fire.