Fire in Tarifa

Two fires burn more than 50 hectars of the Parque Natural de Tarifa.

The municipal district of Tarifa has seen 50 hectares of scrub land burnt down in only 2 days in the midst of of the Parque natural del Estrecho or Parque Litoral. The first fire took place at midday on the 30th August, in the Valdevaqueros area, specifically in the most eastern point of the National road 340.

The first fire started at half past 3 on the 30th August behind the Hotel Restaurant Copacabana, and extended to the Camp site la Peña II, which had to be evacuated by the police, at four in the afternoon, however no serious damage was done. At half past four, the fire was under control and almost put out.

The causes of the fire are unknown, even though there are some theories as to how it may have started. In an hour the fire destroyed three hectares, evacuated the Camp site la Peña II and caused long delays on the 340 road towards Valdevaqueros.

It took more than 3 fire crews to put the blaze out, which grew quickly, more than likely due to the strong easterly wind.

On the morning of the 30th/31st August another fire took place in the outskirts of Tarifa, in the Parque Natural del Estrecho, by Midday on the 31st August it had burnt more than 40 hectares of scrub land. The fire started in the mountains and the strong easterly winds made it difficult to extinguish the flames.

At midnight, there were only surveillance checkpoints to stop the fire from sparking again, which had happened twice during the day.