Fire in Nova Xàbia quickly under
control
Swimmers fined for bathing at the
Arenal with a red flag
One of the biggest fears of these hot
and dry summer months occurred on
Tuesday evening when smoke was
spotted rising from behind the hillock of Santa Llúcia.
Xàbia made a pioneering move in Valencia by being the first municipality
to fine people for bathing while a red
flag was flying.
The blaze was reported at 4.45pm in
the vicinity of Calle Lastres in Urbanisation Nova Xàbia and forced the
evacuation of 14 houses in the area.
The fire, which ultimately destroyed
some two hectares, was attended by
fire-fighting assets from the Bomberos, volunteers from the Protección
Civil and ISVH Bomberos Balcón
al Mar, Policía Local, Guardia Civil
and Forestry Brigades as well as two
helecopters and four planes.
For full story see: Javeamigos.
In a week when seven people have
lost their lives bathing off the coast
in the Comunidad, the police fined
two people on Monday, and a further
three French tourists on Friday, for
entering the sea while the danger flag
was up. The bathers had ignored the
flag, calls and gesticulations from the
Red Cross on the shore and loud hailers. Eventually the lifeguards had to
enter the sea to order the people out
of the water, into the arms of the local police who issued the fines of 750
Euros. From: Levante (Ed’s note: The
Arenal beach has particularly dangerous rip currents. )