MADRID (AP) — Authorities urged a town to evacuate Wednesday after a wildifire erupted in a hilly area of southern Spain, and three firefighters were injured combating the blaze, one of them with burns over 25% of his body.
The town hall of Benahavís told its 9,000 residents to evacuate as a precaution. Local authorities said buses and taxis were ready to help people leave the town in an area of Andalusia about an hour’s drive northwest of the costal resort of Marbella.
The army sent an emergency unit to assist over 200 area firefighters supported by water-dumping airplanes, helicopters and ground vehicles.
Huge plumes of smoke towered into the sky, and firefighters said that at one point winds were causing flames to advance 30 meters (yards) every minute. The fire was still spreading as night fell.
“I lament that three firefighters have been injured,” said Andalusia’s regional chief, Juan Manuel Moreno. “We send them all our support and hopes for a quick recovery.”
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