Calpe launches fire prevention campaign

By Benny Davis

IN response to a recent serious outbreak of fires in the Empredola area of Calpe local Mayor Cesar Sanchez has launched a community fire prevention initiative.

Sixty people persons had to be evacuated from their homes when the fires broke out.
During the coming months, city crews will be concentrating on clearing potential fire outbreak areas including roadside debris; gullies and abandoned building plots used as dumping grounds for garden waste, and open scrub land posing a serious fire risk to surrounding urbanisations.

Part of the work will be to ensure that emergency services have maximum access to all potentially dangerous areas, including clear roads into forest and open scrubland areas. Identifying suitable locations for the creation of fire-breaks, is also on the agenda.

Groups of volunteers under the direction of Councillor Carole Saunders, Department of Citizen Participation, will be joining in the clean-up operation.

Mayor Sanchez has appointed the council’s head biologist to monitor the situation throughout the summer months. The mayor’s final message is that under no circumstances should householders dump garden refuse or unwanted items on adjoining empty land or in gullies as this blatant breach of local bylaws presents a serious fire hazard that could lead to serious injury, even death, within the community. Use the advertised public waste services at the ‘Green’ points located around the borough, or contact the town hall for advice.