Murcia recruits extra fire crews to tackle forest blazes

MURCIA is drafting in extra firefighting personnel to help combat forest fires.

The regional government is to contract the services of more aircraft and a helicopter crew to join the firefighting plan for the next three years.

The contract will be awarded through a public tender process and will require the use of an aircraft for the monitoring of fires in the countryside using heat-sensitive cameras, as well as three helicopters being provided for firefighting duties.

The additional personnel will be based across three areas of the region, at Alcantarilla, Abaran and Zarcilla de Ramos.

Last year, 132 fires were reported in the region with 114 extinguished before they spread and caused devastating damage. Fire damage was limited to areas totalling 10 hectares, 60 per cent less than in 2013.