Wildfire alarms residents and beachgoers in La Azohía

Suspicion abounds as to the cause of the fire in the palm grove of San Ginés

La Azohía is a village which normally doesn’t hit the headlines very often, but at approximately 16.00 in the afternoon of Wednesday 17th June it attracted an unusual amount of unwanted attention when a wildfire broke out in the palm and eucalyptus trees at the western end of the built-up area, usually a popular area with walkers, picnickers and those seeking a rest in the shade.

All eyes in the eastern part of the Bay of Mazarrón were on the flames by the shore and the large pall of smoke which rose into the sky, soon spreading all over the area. A warm breeze fanned the flames until firefighters arrived on land and, with the participation of helicopters, by air, and within an hour or so they were able to reassure members of the public that the blaze was under control and that there were no plans to evacuate the houses which stand alongside the area of greenery.

And there, it would be comforting to report, the story ends, but unfortunately there is some uncertainty over how the fire started. Some reports stated that a poorly watched barbecue was the cause, but other theories are being mooted and at least one eyewitness claims there were initially two starting points in different locations. It is impossible to know for certain whether that is the case, but if it is then it would seem to suggest that arson might be involved.

It is worth pointing out that for the last two years or so the majority of residents in the San Ginés area having been making their discontent known about a plan, apparently approved by the Town Hall of Cartagena, to build up to 200 tourist apartments on the land occupied by the trees, which is next to the course of a rambla (natural run-off channel). It is because of the water course that so much vegetation has thrived here, from reeds and shrubs to the tall trees and the palm grove.

Murcia Today and Spain Today Online are in no position to reach any conclusion about what lay behind the fire on Wednesday, but it is important to mention that comments in community forum groups are spreading as quickly as the fire threatened to do on Wednesday, to the effect that the prospective property developers might not be too upset if the trees were to “accidentally” burn down.

In the meantime, thanks are due to the firefighters, whose prompt intervention ensured that no major damage appears to have been done and that the majority of the trees seem to have survived unscathed.