Palma. The Balearic Nature Institute (Ibanat) and its firefighting forces were tackling a blaze yesterday afternoon which was threatening to sweep across woodland in the area known as Vall del Silenci (Valley of Silence) close to the cemetery at La Vileta in Palma.
Two water carrying helicopters and a special cargo plane were working flat out in relays to quench the fire whilst four brigade units from Ibanat were trying to cut off the fire's path using two fire engines and other equipment provided by the Environment ministry and the Majorcan Fire Service.
The brigade had back up assistance from National Police, the Guardia Civil and a special deployment from the Emergency Operations department.
The blaze had first been reported about midday after being spotted about 200 metres above sea level in dense woodland. Ibanat responded immediately and said at 1.30pm that it had succeeded in controlling, but not extinguishing entirely the blaze which had destroyed 0.13 hectares of land.
Initial investigations by Ibanat and the Guardia Civil into the outbreak of the forest fire suggest that it could have been started intentionally. No evacuation of local residents had been necessary, said an Ibanat spokesman.
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