On the morning of September 27, 2026, Antonio Sanz, the regional government’s first vice president and minister for the presidency, health and emergencies, activated operational situation 1 of Andalusia’s Forest Fire Emergency Plan (Plan Infoca) in Málaga province. The decision followed the development of a forest fire reported the previous evening in Igualeja. Emergency managers ordered the municipality’s residents to shelter in place as a precaution.
The MA-7304 road is fully closed to traffic between kilometre points 0 and 7 in Parauta. Traffic is also halted on the Coto road, which connects the MA-7300 and A-397, to allow firefighting work. During the night, three people were evacuated as a precaution from a home.
The fire was reported at 10:19 p.m. on Saturday, September 26, near the Mirador de Igualeja. Plan Infoca crews were mobilized, and the response was expanded overnight as the fire developed.
A total of 120 forest firefighters are working to extinguish the blaze, alongside a regional fire response brigade (BRICA), four operations technicians, one fire-suppression technician, a deputy director of the Provincial Operations Centre, two logistics technicians and two environmental agents. The response also includes five fire engines, a mobile weather and communications unit, a technical office module and a forest-fire medical unit.
Five aircraft were scheduled to join the operation at 8 a.m.: a light helicopter, a heavy helicopter, two airtankers and a coordination aircraft.
Weather conditions are affecting firefighting work. A preliminary overnight analysis by the Fire Analysis Technical Unit recorded winds of 30 to 35 kilometres per hour, with gusts of 50 to 60 kilometres per hour.
Emergency services urged residents to follow instructions from responders and authorities. People in Igualeja were advised to remain indoors and close doors and windows to keep smoke out. Authorities also advised people to avoid travel in the affected area, stay away from the fire and keep roads clear for emergency vehicles. Residents were asked to maintain communications and call 112 in an emergency.