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Spain Bracing Itself For Summer Forest Fires After Record 150 Year Drought Spain News

Many regions are bracing themselves for a record number of bush and forest fires this summer following a record 150 year drought which has seen rainfall at just 25% of its usual levels in the Valencia and Alicante regions.

In Andalucia, which saw a large number of forest fires in 2012, the reservoirs are incredibly low. At this time of year reservoirs are usually between 74% and 90% full. In the Juzcar reservoir in Málaga, current levels are running at just 54%.

This gives us a good indication of exactly how warm the winter has been here in Spain and how little rain has fallen over the past eight months.

Emergency services provider INAER has deployed 76 firefighting aircraft in 66 different bases up and down the country in preparation for what they believe will be one of the worst summers on record for fires.

2012, saw some of the worst fires ever seen in Spain where Andalucia, Alicante and Valencia where hit particularly hard. Thousands were driven from their homes and one fire-fighter in the Valencia region lost his life.

"We are in for a hellish summer. It could be worse than 2012", says Carlos Bea a fire-fighting trainer at the Muchamiel Aerodrome where pilots are especially trained to deal with Spain's seasonal fires. Bea also believes that many of the fires are started deliberately.

If like the rest of the country, you will be enjoying a barbecue or two this summer, please be extra careful where you have it and make sure that it is fully extinguished once you are done.

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