Affecting part of the area included in the north Menorca national park project

Fire destroys 147 hectares of trees and shrubs at Es Milocar

Firefighting. A total of 4 helicopters and 8 aircraft helped ground forces in their task

The fierce blaze, which started on Tuesday, has been classified as the worst fire on the island in the last 20 years and the worst in the Balearics this year

Christine M. Watterson.Maó

Investigations continue into the cause of the fire which destroyed 147 hectares of woodland at Es Milocar de Binidelfà last week. The starting point of the fire has been identified at the side of the lane leading to Ets Alocs, so experts are not ruling out negligence which is the cause of 70% of fires in the Balearic Islands, but it will be approximately one month before the final report is issued.

More than 200 people were involved in fighting the fire which started just after midday last Tuesday and spread rapidly due to the dryness of the vegetation and north-easterly winds gusting up to 30 kms. per hour. The island´s fire brigrades were helped in their task of extinguishing the blaze by 65 of IBANAT´s personnel and helicopters and planes from both Mallorca and Ibiza, together with two seaplanes sent from Zaragoza and Albacete, plus members of the Civil Protection Unit (set up to assist in emergencies) and members of the Policia Local and Guardia Civil forces on the island.

The blaze was so fierce that at one point the flames were 30 metres high, the smoke could be seen from as far afield as Arenal d´en Castell and ashes reached the town of Ciutadella.

As the area is so remote, the main problem was in obtaining water, especially as strong waves made it impossible to refill from the nearby coast. The planes were forced to take on water from Fornells bay, resulting in the port being closed to maritime traffic, whilst the helicopters managed to refill from the swimming pool at Santa Elisabet and the fire engines were supplied by water tankers or obtained their supplies from the Ferreries industrial estate.

Initital fears for neighbouring farms and livestock proved unfounded as the fire was brought under control by 1800 hrs. the same evening. However, work contined for another day and a half to ensure that it was properly extinguished.

Apart from destroying 147 hectares of trees and undergrowth, wildlife such as tortoises and snakes were caught in the blaze which has also destroyed six pine trees (of the pinus pinaster - the maritime pine - species) unique on the island. Experts calculate that it will be ten years before the area recovers from the disaster.