Emergency protocol has been activated after a forest fire broke out in Almeria late on Thursday night.
The flames are taking hold in the Cubillas area of Lubrin, prompting authorities to activate the Infoca Emergency Plan (Operational Situation 1) early Friday morning.
At around 11pm on Thursday, emergency services began receiving calls from residents reporting flames in the area.
Within minutes, the Guardia Civil, local police, firefighters, the Provincial Operations Center (COP), and Infoca fire units were mobilised, along with the Andalusian Emergency Group (GREA) and provincial Civil Protection teams.
According to Lubrin’s mayor, Domingo Ramos, initial indications suggest the fire may have been sparked by a faulty power line in the Barranco Muñoz de la Alcarria. Investigators are working to confirm the source.
Evacuations ordered
More than 50 residents were evacuated overnight from the El Marchal and Campico Moletas areas, which border the municipality of Bedar.
While most of the danger zone was contained within Lubrin, Infoca also confirmed the preventive evacuation of five people from Los Albaricos and Fuente de los Albaricos in Bedar. Those residents have since been allowed to return home.
Response by land and air
By Friday morning, the firefighting effort had escalated with the deployment of aircraft support. The operation currently includes two water-bombing planes, one coordination plane, one heavy amphibious aircraft, two medium helicopters and one heavy helicopter.
On the ground, more than 15 groups of forest firefighters are engaged, supported by nine fire engines, technical teams, environmental agents, a medical unit, and a specialised meteorological unit.
Reinforcements from Levante de Almeria fire brigades have also joined the operation.
Why situation 1 was declared
The Emergency Plan (Situation 1) is activated when a wildfire, though manageable with available resources, poses a potential risk to people or non-forest properties.
Authorities stressed that the evacuations were precautionary, but necessary given the fire’s location and overnight spread.
As of Friday afternoon, the wildfire is still active. Crews continue to work on stabilising the flames in the Los Filabres mountain range, with hopes that aerial support will help bring the blaze under control.
Authorities are urging residents to remain cautious and follow any evacuation orders, while firefighters continue battling both the flames and the region’s challenging terrain and wind conditions.
Read more Andalucia news at the Spanish Eye.
