A wildfire burning near the Sierra de las Nieves National Park in Málaga province has prompted the activation of the regional emergency plan and confinement measures for residents of Igualeja and Parauta.

The fire was declared at around 10:19pm on Saturday, September 26, in the Mirador de Igualeja area, close to the A-397 road linking Ronda and San Pedro de Alcántara.

The fire remains active, with strong winds and difficult terrain complicating firefighting operations.

Emergency Level Activated

The Junta de Andalucía activated the emergency phase of Plan INFOCA at operational level 1 during the early hours of Sunday as the fire developed.

Residents of Igualeja were ordered to remain indoors and keep doors and windows closed because of smoke. Parauta was subsequently placed under the same confinement measure.

The authorities have also urged people to avoid travelling through the affected area and to keep roads clear for emergency vehicles.

Large Firefighting Operation Underway

The firefighting operation has been expanded as the situation has developed.

The latest information available reports around 140 forest firefighters, seven fire engines, a BRICA reinforcement brigade, technical personnel, environmental agents and specialist emergency units working in the area.

Nine aerial resources have also been deployed or scheduled to join the operation, including helicopters, water-loading aircraft and coordination aircraft.

The exact composition of the deployment has changed as the operation has developed, so the figures should be treated as a snapshot of the response rather than a fixed total.

Strong Winds Complicate Firefighting

Wind has been one of the main difficulties facing firefighters.

The preliminary analysis by the fire behaviour technical team recorded sustained winds of around 30 to 35 kilometres per hour, with gusts reaching approximately 50 to 60 kilometres per hour.

Later reports indicated that gusts exceeding 45 kilometres per hour were affecting firefighting operations, with the fire moving through steep terrain containing significant amounts of vegetation fuel.

Roads Closed

The MA-7304 has been closed to traffic as emergency crews work in the area.

Traffic has also been interrupted on the Coto road, which connects the MA-7300 with the A-397, because of firefighting operations.

A preventive evacuation of one home containing three people was also carried out during the night.

No Confirmation the National Park Has Been Affected

Although the fire is being reported as being close to the Sierra de las Nieves National Park, authorities have not confirmed that the protected area itself has been affected.

The fire is in the vicinity of the Mirador de Igualeja, while the A-397 separates the fire area from the national park environment.

This distinction is important: describing the event simply as a "fire in Sierra de las Nieves National Park" would go beyond what has currently been confirmed.

Cause Not Yet Established

The cause of the fire has not been established publicly.

Firefighting teams remain focused on containing the flames and preventing further spread while emergency authorities continue to monitor the situation.

Residents in Igualeja and Parauta are being instructed to follow official emergency advice, remain indoors while confinement orders are in place and keep doors and windows closed to prevent smoke from entering homes.

The situation remains active and further changes to the emergency measures are possible as weather conditions and the fire's behaviour develop.