In a meeting held with the Mayors of the municipalities affected by the fire on 15th July (Mijas, Alhaurín el Grande, and Alhaurín de la Torre), the Junta's Minister of Sustainability, Environment and Blue Economy, Ramón Fernández-Pacheco, announced: "imminent execution of emergency works to mitigate the hydrological risk to the forest in the area affected by the fire in the Sierra de Mijas". According to the Andalusian Administration, the works will begin "immediately" and will involve, according to the Minister, an investment of more than two million euros in a public forest area of 612 hectares spread between the three localities.

For the Mijas Mayor, Josele González (PSOE), "this preventive work for the recovery of the affected areas is fundamental. We are very pleased that they have listened to the requests we made from Mijas Town Hall for these actions to begin soon, thus allowing the restoration of the damage and to minimise the erosive processes. We want these works to begin as soon as possible". The Councillor explains that "once these works are completed, it will be time to plan the reforestation of our beloved Sierra, which was severely affected by the fire of 15th July. In this regard, we will continue to monitor the local administration".  González also stated that "from Mijas, we will remain open to collaboration between administrations so that this becomes a reality and our Sierra returns to look in all its splendour. Just as we will continue to demand the cataloguing of the Sierra Mijas-Alpujata as a Natural Park.

The dangers of erosion

The autumn and winter rains, following the sudden loss of vegetation cover as a result of the fire, could generate erosion and flooding in the catchment areas, as well as entailing the risk of the sudden fall of trees affected by the fire, according to the resolution of the Directorate General for Forestry Policy. The Minister insisted that this is particularly critical in the areas closest to the roads’ network, paths, and footpaths.

The works will consist of actions ranging from the clearing of burnt trees, pest control, and actions aimed at slowing down the processes of water erosion by creating stone or wooden barricades in small streams and on the slopes. Reforestation will be carried out by sowing and planting trees and shrubs.

According to the Junta, the risk, which has led to the declaration of emergency work, "is particularly significant in the area of the fire, which is very prone to torrential phenomena due to the generation of isolated depressions in the upper areas of the atmosphere (DANA). This phenomenon can cause serious damage to people and infrastructure".

The works planned within the framework of this action have been divided into three zones (each one in one of the three affected municipalities) with the aim, the councillor pointed out, of carrying them out "quickly and safely" over a total area of 612.36 hectares. The works, which will begin immediately and simultaneously, will have a maximum execution period of 9 months and have been awarded by means of a public draw by invitation to 26 companies, although 20 were finally selected.

Phases of the works

The first of the works involves work on 287.17 hectares of the Sierra public forest in Alhaurín el Grande, where the work will be carried out with a maximum estimated budget of 802,388.48 euros. The second area affects 213.44 hectares of the La Mezquita and Puerto Blanquillo public woodland in Alhaurín de la Torre, where an estimated maximum budget of 769,823.15 euros will be invested. The third area of action, on 111.75 hectares in the municipality of Mijas (in Sierra Blanca and Sierra Bermeja), has a maximum budget of 385,255.46 euros. In addition, the assistant manager of the emergency works has been awarded a maximum budget of 58,383.79 euros.

The fire

The Sierra de Mijas forest fire started at midday on 15th July in the area known as El Higuerón, although it eventually affected the municipalities of Mijas, Alhaurín el Grande, and Alhaurín de la Torre. Due to the meteorological circumstances (changeable wind, steep terrain and abundant vegetation), the fire became quite intense. The proximity to inhabited areas led to the level 1 activation of the Emergency Plan for Forest Fires and, only after several days of extinction, which required the participation of a significant amount of human resources and aerial means, the fire was brought under control on 19th July and extinguished on 3rd August.
 

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