Arson may be cause of beach hut fire

INVESTIGATIONS are under way to determine the cause of a blaze which seriously damaged three beach huts at the weekend, and arson has yet to be ruled out.

Almuñecar’s Local Police force received a call at 7am on Saturday (November 21) from the caretaker of Las Gondolas residential complex reporting a fire in one of three wooden huts on Fuentepiedra beach opposite.

Flames quickly engulfed the huts, which are used as showers and changing rooms and storage both for beach services and for the International Petanque Club, which plays nearby, and it took a while for the fire brigade to put the blaze out, the council later reported.

 “The fire started in the middle hut and spread to those on either side, causing serious damage. Now the police and fire brigade are investigating the possible causes and haven’t ruled out the possibility of arson,” Environmental and Beaches Councillor Luis Aragon reported after visiting the site.