Firefighters from the Provincial Consortium were mobilised late yesterday afternoon, Sunday 5th July, to tackle a fire that broke out in a pine forest area situated close to residential properties in Villamartin. The flames originated near the junction of Calle Antillas and Wagner, an area inland from the Orihuela coast where housing developments are interspersed with pine forests and dry riverbeds, in close proximity to the Villamartin golf course.
According to sources from the Orihuela City Council, the fire was brought under control and was practically extinguished by approximately 10:30 p.m. The Provincial Fire Consortium confirmed that the firefighting efforts involved the deployment of four teams of forest firefighters from the Generalitat, alongside five teams from the Fire Consortium. As a precautionary measure, some residents voluntarily evacuated their homes.
Similar incidents have occurred along the Orihuela coastline during recent springs and summers, frequently affecting scrubland, pine forests, and dry vegetation located adjacent to residential zones. These fires often cause significant alarm due to the rapid spread of flames, which reached several metres in height this past Sunday, particularly given the dry terrain and the minimal distance between the vegetation and nearby houses.
Many of these affected spaces are situated in land that remains undeveloped between residential sectors. In several instances, these sites are associated with ravines or areas of environmental value that are protected as forest land, where vegetation often grows alongside streets, private plots, and housing complexes. The presence of pine forest and scrubland immediately next to these densely populated homes necessitated a rapid mobilisation of resources to ensure the fire did not spread to the nearby residential areas.
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