The wildfire that broke out in Benahavís on Friday has been stabilised, Andalucia’s INFOCA wildfire service confirmed on Friday night.

In a brief update issued at 8.30pm, INFOCA announced the blaze had entered the ‘stabilised’ phase.

A stabilised wildfire is one that, while not yet fully under control, is developing favourably and no longer has active fronts spreading freely, allowing firefighters to begin consolidating containment lines.

Emergency crews remain at the scene and firefighting operations will continue until the blaze is fully brought under control.

The fire had prompted a large emergency response earlier in the day as crews worked to prevent the flames from spreading through the mountainous terrain around Benahavis.

There have been no immediate reports of injuries.

A small number of people remained confined to their homes throughout Friday as firefighters continued battling the wildfire.

It came after nearly 1,800 residents were allowed to return after Thursday’s mass evacuations.

Emergency service 112 Andalucía said 1,796 people have now been authorised to return to Los Flamingos, Parque Botanico and the Four Seasons complex.

The wildfire broke out on Thursday afternoon near the AP-7 before racing through woodland towards the exclusive Monte Mayor development, forcing thousands of people from their homes and triggering one of the Costa del Sol’s largest emergency responses this summer.

Emergency services continue to urge residents to stay away from the affected area and follow all official instructions while the operation remains ongoing.

The AP-7 motorway, which had been partially closed, has now fully reopened to traffic.