Palma.Fire fighters from across the island were involved in battling a spate of blazes which hit the area of Costa d'en Blanes yesterday afternoon. The first alarm, was raised at 3.52pm when the first fire broke out in the pine woods in Ses Vinyes between Son Caliu and Costa d'en Blanes.
But, as the afternoon developed, other fires began breaking out and at one point eyewitness Vicky Metcalfe, who lives right at the top of Costa d'en Blanes claimed there were as many as four fires raging.
What these guys in the air are doing is amazing, but at the moment I think they are concentrating on the Costa d'en Blanes valley because there are so many homes down there, she said.
We've got the planes and helicopters swooping around these pilots really do an excellent and brave job, she said. Fortunately the wind is calm, well at least not strong enough to make much difference to the fires so hopefully the fire fighters will get the situation under control relatively quickly, she said.
At least two helicopters were involved in the operation, filling up their buckets from local swimming pools and golf courses, two small fire fighter planes and one of the large Canadair planes.
On the ground, the Ibanat Balearic Forestry Institute was supported by units from the Soller, Santa Ponsa and Palma fire brigades.
At 6.25pm, Ibanat reported that the blazes were under control.
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