30 flee mountain fire – Calpe, Costa Blanca News

 UP to 30 people had to flee their homes in the middle of the night as a fire tore across Maryvilla urbanisation near Calpe.

They were relocated to the Hotel Esmeralda after being evacuated between 3am and 6am.

Firefighters and rescue teams were called to the scene but they struggled to contain the flames and strong winds pushed the fire towards Mascarat.

Fire fighting helicopters had to be used on Sunday’s fire instead of more efficient water dropping planes due to the dangerous conditions.

It was not until the wind died down that afternoon that firefighters had a chance of controlling the blaze.

As the afternoon progressed a fire fighting plane also joined the two helicopters and four fire engines already tackling the blaze.

Residents were back in their homes by Monday night.  Although the fire was put out on the Calpe side, it raged on most of Monday night on the Mascarat side.  Luckily it never reached the “Girasoles” urbanisation, where residents were put on stand-by for evacuation.

Counciller for Calpe town hall, Paco Cabrera, was on the scene. “It’s been incredibly difficult for the firefighters,” he said, “but thanks to their efforts no one has been hurt or lost their homes.”

When asked how the fire might have started, Paco said: “The investigation is still underway, and there will be no official statement until next week, although it is speculated that it was down to a faulty Iberdrola electricity transformer.”

Eyewitnesses said that there had been sparks coming from the transformer, and Iberdrola had already been informed and asked to inspect it a few weeks prior to the incident.  Another witness who lives on the urbanisation said that she heard a loud explosion around 2:30 am on the Monday morning.