FIRE FIGHTERS BATTLE RAGING BLAZE NEAR PETRA

PALMA
FIRE fighters and forestry commissioners were yesterday afternoon battling a fierce forest fire in Petra.
The blaze was reported at 1.50pm on the Son Doblon estate just a few miles outside the town and by 4pm, fire chiefs said that the fire had been contained but was still raging, fueled by the strong warm winds.

Teams of fire fighters from Arta and Manacor were involved in the operation on the ground while four fire fighter planes attacked the blaze from the skies.

Two helicopter transporters were also brought in to help move fire fighting equipment quickly and also monitor the fires movement from the skies and coordinate the fire fighters on the ground.

Fire chiefs said that the fire spread very quickly yesterday afternoon but the cause of the blaze had yet to be confirmed.
An investigation can not be mounted until the fire is extinguished and the flames continued to flicker yesterday evening.
A small unit of fire fighters was expected to remain on sight over night to keep an eye on the blaze.