Autumn?

 

 

It may officially be autumn – but here in Javea on Spain’s Costa Blanca, summer is clinging on. Today, the temperature rocketed up to an incredible 35°C and the Med felt positively balmy this afternoon! It was heavenly – I  plunged straight in without my usual hesitation. After yesterday’s cooler overcast weather and the fact that the nights are rapidly drawing in, we thought autumn had arrived, so today’s heatwave was an unexpected bonus.

 

We were enjoying our early afternoon swim when we noticed thick smoke rising from the surrounding hills and curling down towards the coast. We’d passed several police cars with sirens and blue flashing lights coming up the hill when we drove down to the Arenal and wondered what was happening. Apparently a serious forest fire had broken out on the wooded hillsides surrounding the Costa Nova area of Javea (where we live in Spain) and the flames were spreading towards homes on the nearby urbanisation. Around 300 residents were evacuated from their homes as firefighters struggled to bring the blaze under control.  Police vehicles, fire engines, helicopters with water containers and low flying aircraft spraying flame retardant were all involved in the drama, which continued for several hours. After we returned home following our swim, helicopters were still dousing the flames with water collected from residents’ swimming pools and some of the roads were closed off.  Eventually, Thanks to the skill and bravery of all those involved, the fire was put out and all of us living on the Costa Nova can sleep safely in our beds tonight.