" Ronda's burning! Ronda's burning! Fetch the engine ..... !"

13 Nov

13Nov

The "burning season" has opened in Andalucia. In order to burn garden waste, scrub and clippings you need a permit obtainable free of charge from your local town hall.

The start date was November 1st, so I made sure I applied for my licencia in good time.

[Photo courtesy of ABC de Sevilla]

My Story

**My home is in Fuente de la Higuera, a pedania in the campo just outside Ronda (Malaga) where I have lived for the last 14 years. It's right across the road from the Foreign Legion barracks.**

My finca has a large garden and a 10,000 m2 field. Over the last 12 months I have accumulated a lot of material for burning.

Fuente de la Higuera, Ronda [Photo: Wikiloc]

My gardener, who used to take care of the burning, has been conspicuous by his absence lately, so it was down to me for the first time in 14 years; in actual fact the first time ever in my life!

November 1st, 2025

This day is a fiesta nacional in Spain - Dia de todos los Santos (All Saints Day) - and none of my neighbours lit fires, but the following day, Sunday, they all did. Taking my lead from them, I lit several small bonfires after meticulous preparation, with hosepipe at the ready, just in case.

Todos los Santos [Video courtesy of RTVE.es]

Come Monday, there were smoke plumes all over the area. "A good idea to burn some more of my garden waste," I thought.

So I lit a few small fires, which burned quickly and then went dormant.

Then I turned my attention to a larger pile of waste. I checked out the surroundings and judged it to be safe. There was a good metre gap between my pile and some scrub next door.

So I lit the fire and up it went.

Before you could say "¡Ay, caramba!" the flames started racing through the wet stubble at a great pace. I managed to stop it reaching the rear of my neighbours' gardens, by using the hosepipe. But, it was spreading in other directions too, into my field, all stubble, and into my neighbours' properties to the east.

My hosepipes weren't long enough, so I drove round to their properties, but nobody was there. They had gone to lunch.

I did my best with what was there, but their hosepipes weren't long enough either.

When a palm tree caught fire I knew I needed professional help, so I rang 112, the emergency number. The nice lady who answered was in Madrid, so obviously didn't know our area, but she took details.

First, "Where's the fire?" I told her. Then she asked me more detailed questions about the terrain. "Is it flat? Are houses in danger? Has anyone been hurt?" and so on.

Within minutes I could hear sirens. The fire brigade were in the vicinity in 5 minutes. I met them and led the way to the scene of the fire and they got to work. Within a very short time, with their high pressure hoses, they had quelled the flames and stopped them spreading further.

Amazing!

[Photo: Pablo de Ronda]

Meanwhile the fire had taken off across the fields. The fire brigade needed better access, so I led the way. This is the campo, so there are few roads; they are mostly tracks.

Long story short, the bomberos were there for four hours damping down. Two fire engines, an Infoca engine, the policia local and the patrulla verde.

[Above photos by Pablo de Ronda]

Aftermath

The policia local officers were polite yet very strict. They made it clear to me that I was at fault. The man from the patrulla verde was less intimidating. His role was to assess the damage. Fortunately I was able to show them my valid permit.

Policia Local [Getty Images]

Patrulla Verde [Grupo SIPSE]

I should be covered by my house insurance for damage caused to third parties, but I am expecting a multa (fine) from the policia local for failing to control the fire.

In mitigation, my neighbours, Hotel La Perla Blanca and Bodega Badman, had failed to cut down the metre-high grass and scrub on their land, despite being obliged to do so by law, precisely because of the risk of fire.

I am also told I will get a bill from the fire brigade. I hope my insurance also covers that.

I guess I may need a lawyer to help sort this out .....

I'll keep you posted!

STOP PRESS:

My instinct as un buen vecino was to talk to the neighbours who had been affected, but I was advised not to for fear of compromising any action I or the authorities may chose to take to apportion a significant part of the blame to said neighbours, Hotel La Perla Blanca and Bodegas Badman. This, for their failure to keep their land scrub-free by cutting down the metre-high weeds and and dried grass to hinder/prevent such fires from spreading so easily. A legal requirement throughout the region.

Bodegas Badman [Facebook]

POSTSCRIPT:

Interestingly, in the two days since the fire, hardly anybody in the area has been burning!

Eight days later, the same, and now it's pouring down!

Photos:

ABC de Sevilla, Facebook, Getty Images, Grupo SISE, Pablo de Ronda, RTVE.es, Trip Advisor, Wikiloc,

Thanks:

085, 112, Bomberos de Ronda, Infoca

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