A forest fire declared at midday in Sierra Espuña natural park, Murcia, has burned around 400 hectares and forced the evacuation of 80 scouts and 14 monitors from the Caruana farm in Totana. Strong wind gusts have accelerated its spread, triggering level 2 of the Infomur Plan. The Military Emergencies Unit (UME) is heading to the site to assist with firefighting efforts.
The fire started around 2 p.m. in the Llano de las Cabras area in Totana. Sources from the Government Delegation in Murcia confirmed it has affected about 400 hectares, with a 2-kilometer active front.
Precautionarily, a group of 80 child scouts with 14 monitors was evacuated from the Caruana farm, along with a nearby cattle farm. No injuries have been reported.
The response involves 150 ground personnel, including forest brigades from Totana, Alhama, Zarcilla, Mula, and Cehegín, firefighters from the Regional Fire and Rescue Consortium parks in Lorca, Alhama/Totana, and Molina de Segura, plus Civil Protection teams. Four helicopters and two from the Directorate General for Citizen Security and Emergencies are operating, along with a request for two aircraft from the Ministry for Ecological Transition.
Regional president Fernando López Miras, from the Advanced Command Post, stated that a drop in wind intensity is expected from 8 p.m. for a favorable evolution. Government delegate Francisco Lucas authorized the UME deployment and posted on X: “I reiterate the need for regional president López Miras to immediately convene the Coordination Center because, in an emergency, coordination between administrations is essential.”
