Two separate wildfires broke out in Malaga province on Monday, causing road closures and traffic chaos.
The first blaze erupted at around 2.30pm on scrubland near the main entrance of the Andalucia Technology Park (PTA) in Campanillas, near Malaga city.
Thick smoke and dust forced police to shut down both the A-7054 and A-357 roads in both directions for nearly three hours, triggering gridlock and concern among tech park employees and passing motorists.
The fire, believed to have been started by field burning, was brought under control before 5.30pm thanks to a swift response by Malaga’s fire brigade, supported by Local Police, traffic units, and Infoca reinforcements.
No injuries or major property damage were reported. Half the firefighting team has now stood down, while the remainder continue cooling the area to prevent flare-ups.
Field burning, also known as agricultural burning or prescribed burning, is the practice of intentionally setting fire to vegetation on agricultural land, often to manage crop residue, control pests or prepare land for planting.
It’s a long-standing practice, particularly in areas where it’s a cost-effective way to clear land or manage specific crops.
However the fires this week have raised concerns about its illegal use during peak fire season, particularly in at-risk regions like Andalucia.
Meanwhile, a second wildfire broke out earlier at 1.30pm in Casares, near the Ignacio Molina wind farm.
Infoca deployed helicopters, fire crews, and environmental agents to contain the flames. The A-377 was closed to traffic for safety reasons.
Both incidents have reignited debate over illegal agricultural burns, especially during the summer months when wildfire risk is at its highest.
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