People who know me are well aware that for years I have wanted to report from a ‘war zone’.  Saturday the 21st of June 2008 was like living in one. At around 7pm I became aware of the smell of burning, then the police cars etc., could be heard around the village. Smoke was everywhere. The hills opposite were on fire!  It has been very hot the last few weeks and really it is a wonder that this hasn’t happened before.  During our time here, we have seen a couple of hill fires, but nothing on the scale of this one  At one point, the scene opposite our roof terrace was completely obliterated by the smoke and the sound of the flames was horrendous.

Two water helicopters were called to the scene..at one point I thought there were going to land on our roof and ask me for water! They were that close. Thundering overhead with their rotary blades whirling.  They were circling and coming at the hills from both ends of the valley, dropping their ‘buckets’ of water as they were flying.  I can’t make a guess of how much water was used or even where it was coming from, but the helicopters were coming around every 3 or 4 minutes (or so it seemed) and the process must have lasted for a good couple of hours. Torrox is a terraced village situated on one side of a valley with the Rio Torrox flowing through, so the fire was right opposite the village.  Houses on the lower level had to be evacuated because of the smoke.  Eventually the electric went down in the village and what with that and the noise of the helicopters I really thought I was living in Iraq!

 This is the scene the morning after. A vast area of the hills blackened. At what cost to the local economy and to the local wildlife.

I have heard..and I don’t know how true this is..that the Police have arrested 3 young boys..of what nationality and on what charges I don’t know.