The Infoca Plan exercise simulated the activation of level 1 of the Emergency Plan and the evacuation of Cruz del Monte, an urbanization where 70 people live
Faced with a summer with a significant risk of forest fires, due to the persistent drought and rising temperatures, the services in charge of dealing with them have been preparing for any eventuality. Today (Wednesday May 25) a large forest fire drill has been carried out in Cómpeta, in the Axarquia, the area east of Malaga that has been particularly affected by forest fires in recent years.
The maneuvers organized by the Malaga Delegation of the Junta de Andalucía and the Department of the Environment took place in the Sierras de Tejeda, Almijara and Alhama. A total of 113 troops and 35 emergency vehicles participated in the exercise.
The drill was carried out in accordance with the Infoca plan, which establishes the need to “periodically check the effectiveness of the procedures established through this type of exercise.”
Coordination and communication
“With these drills, the integration of the different activated plans (self-protection plans, municipal emergency plans and the Andalusian Forest Fire Emergency Plan) is verified,” the unit explained in a statement.
According to the Board, “procedures for activating and mobilizing operatives are also analyzed and coordination and communication between the organizations involved in an emergency are tested.”
The exercise began at 10:00 am with the declaration of a forest fire that was advancing west towards the Tejarero area and close to Cruz del Monte, located north of the A-7207 road. At 11:30 a.m., the unfavorable evolution of the fire forced the activation of level one of the Forest Fire Emergency Plan of the Board, due to the possible impact on approximately 50 homes and 70 residents in the area. At the same time, the Urbanization Self-Protection Plan, the Municipal Emergency Plan (PEM) of Cómpeta and the Local Emergency Plan for Forest Fires (PLEIF) were also activated.
The exercise was attended by personnel from Emergencies 112 Andalusia (112, Andalusian Group of Emergencies and Civil Protection); informs; the Health Emergencies Center 061; the Fire Department of the Provincial Consortium; the National Police Unit attached to the Junta de Andalucía; Civil Guard, Local Police and Red Cross, as well as groups of Civil Protection volunteers from Cómpeta, Torrox, Rincón de la Victoria, Nerja and Frigiliana.
The 112 emergency service also provided information on social networks and safety messages in both Spanish and English, given the large English-speaking population in this area. The resources deployed included an Infoca helicopter and a GREA drone.