Lightning strike starts forest fire in Jumilla
Lightning strike starts forest fire in Jumilla
24 March 2008
published by www.typicallyspanish.com
Spain — The blaze destroyed 30 hectares before it was brought under control.
A fire started by a bolt of lightning in the Sierra de Sopalmo, in Jumilla, on Sunday afternoon has destroyed 30 hectares of land, with the flames fanned by the high winds spreading out to form two separate fronts extending for some 500 metres, EFE reports. A team of 100 experts were working on controlling the blaze and it is reported to have been brought under control at around 9pm on Sunday night.
La Verdad newspaper said the area affected is close to Europes largest photovoltaic energy plant, inaugurated earlier this year by the Industry Minister, Joan Clos. The PV solar plant is made up of 120,000 solar panels grouped in 200 separate photovoltaic arrays, and covers an area of 100 hectares.
