A wildfire that was declared in Estepona on Thursday evening has been extinguished after being downgraded to ‘urban’ by regional firefighting service INFOCA.

The service said late at night that it had withdrawn its helicopter and was assisting local firefighters, with one forestry crew and a fire engine remaining at the scene.

On Friday morning, the Malaga Consortium of Firefighters said their troops had left the area after bringing the blaze under control.

The blaze broke out at around 5pm on Thursday, with flames reported in a scrubland area off Calle Onice in Nueva Atalaya, close to San Pedro Alcantara.

Emergency services received the first calls at around 5.20pm, prompting a major response involving the regional Infoca wildfire service, Provincial Consortium firefighters, police and medical teams.

Infoca said it dispatched two groups of specialist forest firefighters, an operations technician, a fire engine and a medium helicopter to bring the fire under control.

The cause of the blaze has not yet been confirmed.

It follows wildfires in Almogia and Marbella on Monday, and another in Rincon de la Victoria on Wednesday.

Fortunately, they were all extinguished before causing significant damage or injuries.

With temperatures climbing across southern Spain and vegetation becoming increasingly dry, authorities continue to urge residents and visitors to exercise extreme caution in rural areas, where even a small spark can quickly develop into a dangerous wildfire.

Read more Andalucia news at the Spanish Eye.