Two held as Spain battles fires
August 8th, 2006 | Uncategorized
Desperate times… fighting an inferno with a garden hose.
Spanish police have arrested two suspected arsonists in the north-western Galicia region, where 64 forest fires are raging.
Three people have died in the fires, many of which are near houses. Hundreds of firefighters have been deployed, along with water-bombing aircraft.
Officials said the situation was “critical” around Rianxo.
The Spanish authorities say most of the fires, raging since last week, were deliberately lit. Many were started on wooded slopes near residential areas.
The fires have engulfed several thousand hectares of land.
News from the Bodega: We are shrouded in smoke, some local roads have been closed, we have fire fighting helicopters and planes buzzing overhead, but we do not appear to be in any immediate danger – I hope!