Benahavís Wildfire: Emergency Alert as Residents Told to Stay Indoors

BENAHAVÍS – HIGRH NEWS: Benahavís wildfire has prompted an emergency response on the Costa del Sol, with authorities raising the situation to operational Level 1 and sending an ES-Alert to residents as firefighters and aerial crews battle flames near the Ermita del Rosario area. What is happening in Benahavís, and what have residents been told to do?

Benahavís wildfire triggers Level 1 emergency response

A major wildfire broke out in Benahavís, Málaga, on Sunday, prompting emergency authorities to strengthen the response as flames spread through an area near the Ermita del Rosario.

The fire was reported during the early afternoon and quickly produced a large column of smoke that could be seen across parts of the Costa del Sol.

Andalusia’s regional authorities subsequently raised the incident to operational Level 1 because of the evolution of the fire. The decision brought additional emergency resources into the operation and triggered an ES-Alert warning for residents in parts of the municipality.

The alert instructed people in the northern and western parts of Benahavís, as well as residents of the La Coja urbanisation, to remain indoors.

Authorities also advised residents to close doors and windows and avoid unnecessary exposure to smoke. People were urged not to exercise outdoors while the emergency continued.

Particular precautions were recommended for children, elderly people and anyone with respiratory conditions.

The emergency response comes as firefighters work to prevent the flames from advancing towards populated areas and other vulnerable parts of the surrounding landscape.

The regional government said the fire was declared at around 1pm, with the emergency level raised at 2pm as the situation developed. Four aircraft were deployed by the Infoca firefighting operation, including two medium-sized helicopters, one light helicopter and one heavy helicopter.

The latest reports indicate that the emergency remains active, with firefighting teams continuing their efforts to stabilise the blaze.

More than 60 firefighters tackle the Benahavís wildfire

More than 60 firefighters and emergency personnel have been involved in the response according to reports on the developing incident.

The operation includes aerial firefighting crews as well as ground teams working directly against the flames.

Three water tanker vehicles have also been deployed, together with a medical unit.

Official Infoca information reported a ground deployment that included 23 forest firefighters, three operations technicians, two specialist reinforcement brigades, an environmental agent and a firefighting vehicle.

The combination of aircraft and ground crews is designed to attack the fire from several directions while emergency teams monitor its movement.

The large smoke plume has made the incident highly visible from surrounding areas. Residents and witnesses have shared photographs and videos showing smoke rising above the hills around Benahavís.

The fire has been referred to as the Ermita del Rosario fire on the Wildfire Watch application, where users have posted hundreds of comments, photographs and videos relating to the incident.

The situation has also attracted attention from residents in nearby parts of the Costa del Sol.

One witness, Georgi Medzhidiliev, said he had watched the fire develop from his apartment in Guadalmina Alta.

He reported seeing the fire towards the north and northwest, around the Montemayor area, and said the flames appeared to extend rapidly across the hills.

According to his account, he contacted Spain’s emergency number 112 and was told that emergency services were already aware of the fire and that firefighting aircraft were being sent to the area.

He also described increasing winds and smoke rising behind the ridge.

Residents told to stay indoors as smoke spreads

The ES-Alert sent to residents represents one of the most important measures taken during the emergency.

People living in the northern and western parts of Benahavís and in La Coja were specifically instructed to remain inside their homes.

The advice is intended to limit exposure to smoke while firefighting operations continue.

Residents have been told to keep doors and windows closed. They have also been advised against going outdoors unless necessary and warned not to exercise outside while smoke remains in the area.

People with respiratory conditions have been singled out for additional protection because smoke from a wildfire can create particularly difficult conditions for those already experiencing breathing problems.

Authorities have also urged residents to take extra care of children and elderly people.

Anyone who must leave their home has been advised to wear a mask.

The regional government has stressed that residents should follow instructions from emergency services and the 112 emergency system as the situation develops.

At present, the available information does not establish a final figure for the area affected by the flames.

There is also no confirmed final assessment of property damage from the information currently available.

As a result, residents should rely on official emergency communications rather than estimates circulating on social media or fire-tracking applications.

Why the emergency alert matters

ES-Alert is designed to provide urgent information directly to mobile phones in an affected area.

In a rapidly developing wildfire, the system allows authorities to communicate instructions to residents without relying solely on television, websites or social media.

In Benahavís, the alert focused on remaining indoors and reducing exposure to smoke.

The message therefore provides residents with immediate guidance while firefighters concentrate on the incident itself.

Wind becomes a concern as firefighters battle the flames

Wind conditions have been highlighted by witnesses as the fire developed.

Medzhidiliev said winds were increasing while smoke continued to rise from behind the ridge.

Wind can make wildfire behaviour more difficult to predict and can influence the direction in which flames and smoke travel.

The latest reporting indicated that winds in Benahavís were coming from the east, pushing the fire towards the west. Nearby areas in the direction of Estepona and the Genal Valley include environmentally protected landscapes, increasing the importance of the firefighting operation.

For firefighters, changing wind conditions can complicate both aerial and ground operations.

Aircraft must respond to the position of the flames, while crews on the ground work to contain the fire and protect surrounding areas.

The operation therefore remains focused on stabilising the wildfire before authorities can provide a definitive assessment of its impact.

The A-7175 road has also been restricted to traffic because of the ongoing emergency, according to the latest reports.

Drivers in the area should therefore avoid affected routes and follow instructions from emergency personnel.

Benahavís wildfire raises concern across the Costa del Sol

The incident has generated widespread attention because of its location close to residential communities and its visibility from other parts of the Costa del Sol.

Benahavís is a mountainous municipality in Málaga province, located between Marbella, Estepona and Ronda. Its terrain includes hills and areas of natural vegetation, creating challenging conditions for firefighting when flames spread through the landscape.

The scale of the smoke plume has allowed people in surrounding areas to see the fire from a considerable distance.

Photographs and videos posted by members of the public have shown a large column of smoke rising over the hills.

The fire also comes after other serious wildfires have affected Málaga province in recent years.

In September 2021, the Sierra Bermeja wildfire caused extensive damage across several municipalities and resulted in the death of forest firefighter Carlos Martínez Haro. The blaze ultimately affected more than 8,400 hectares, including land in Benahavís.

The current incident is separate from that earlier disaster, but the history helps explain why any major wildfire in the Benahavís area attracts significant concern.

Authorities are now concentrating on preventing the current fire from developing into a larger emergency.

Firefighting operation continues around Ermita del Rosario

The emergency operation remains focused on the area around the Ermita del Rosario.

Four firefighting aircraft have been deployed, supported by ground personnel and specialist teams.

The aerial response includes two medium helicopters, one light helicopter and one heavy helicopter, while ground teams continue working to contain the fire.

The deployment demonstrates the scale of the response already under way.

Three water tankers and a medical unit have also been reported as part of the wider operation.

Authorities have not yet provided a definitive explanation for what caused the fire.

Likewise, there is no confirmed final figure for the area burned, as the emergency remains ongoing.

Those details are likely to become clearer once firefighters have stabilised the flames and emergency teams can safely assess the affected area.

Until then, officials are asking residents to prioritise safety and follow the instructions issued through 112 and the emergency alert system.

What residents in Benahavís should do now

Residents who received the ES-Alert should remain indoors and keep windows and doors closed.

They should avoid outdoor exercise and unnecessary journeys while smoke remains present.

Children, elderly people and people with respiratory problems require particular attention.

Anyone who needs to go outside should take appropriate precautions, including wearing a mask as advised by authorities.

Residents should also avoid approaching the fire to take photographs or videos. Emergency crews need clear access to roads and operational areas while firefighting aircraft require safe conditions to work overhead.

The restriction on the A-7175 is another reminder that roads close to the incident may not be safe or accessible.

The most reliable information will come from official emergency services and local authorities as the operation progresses.

The wildfire remains an active emergency, and conditions can change quickly depending on wind, terrain and the effectiveness of containment efforts.

official Junta de Andalucía / emergency information source:

Junta de Andalucía — Emergencias 112

Frequently Asked Questions about the Benahavís wildfire

Where did the wildfire start?
The fire was reported near the Ermita del Rosario area of Benahavís, Málaga.

What emergency level has been declared?
Authorities have raised the incident to operational Level 1 because of the fire’s evolution.

Which residents received the emergency alert?
The ES-Alert targeted residents in northern and western parts of Benahavís and the La Coja urbanisation.

What should residents do?
They should remain indoors, close doors and windows, avoid outdoor activities and follow instructions from emergency services…….MORE