Costa Blanca prepares to fight summer fires

Forest fire is always a summer danger and this year’s drought heightens the risk. “We are in for a hellish summer. It could be worse than 2012,” predicted Carlos Bea, an instructor at Muchamiel aerodrome where pilots are trained to fly fire-fighting helicopters wherever needed in Spain.

These are equipped with Bambi buckets that carry up to 4,500 litres on each fire-extinguishing journey. 

The situation is worse than in other years owing to the drought but the number of pilots assigned to the Valencian Community has not been increased. Instead the helicopters have been deployed earlier than usual.

“Fortunately there is water in the reservoirs; there are no problems in that respect,” said pilot instructor Carlos Bea. 

The Cortes de Pallas and Andillas fires which devastated 48,000 hectares of Valencian Community woodland in 2012 are fresh in his memory. 

A pilot died while fighting the Cortes fire and others were injured.  “The risk is enormous. Pilots must stop above the reservoir, scoop up water and carry it to the fire zones.

It’s essential to be mentally prepared and motivated.  Training is fundamental,” Bea said.

The fire-fighting brigades will be kept busy, he believed. “Drought, wind and high temperatures will be determining factors but it’s fundamental that people don’t cause fires.”  Too many are deliberate, Bea added.