Winter plans help to prevent summer fires

MAIN drainage in the Girasoles zone in Benitachell’s Cumbre del Sol is functioning once more.

The €52,000 cost of replacing 680 metres of sewage pipes damaged in last September’s fire was financed by the council although the town hall has applied for grants to cover this from the Generalitat and the Alicante Diputacion.

Hydrants that were so important in preventing the fire from spreading to other urbanisations last year have also been inspected. 

The town hall is currently dealing with owners’ requests for undergrowth and trees to be cleared from areas surrounding their properties, said the town hall’s Residents’ department which is headed by Dirk Rheindorf.

The regional government has now issued a manual that recommends separating homes from woodland with a 30-metre strip that has been cleared of undergrowth.  The same handbook advises leaving four metres between trees inside gardens and pruning them to two-thirds of their height. They should also be at least 10 metres away from houses, the Generalitat said. 

Applications can be made, by appointment, at the town hall’s Residents’ department on Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 10am to 2pm or by calling 606 831 607.