Pasaia, Spain – A fire that broke out shortly before 1:00 p.m. yesterday on Mount Jaizkibel in the Pasai Donibane area burned at least 30 hectares of pine trees, according to the Gipuzkoa Provincial Council.

The fire started in Talaia, on the northern slope near the sea, with flames visible from Pasaia and Oarsoaldea. Strong southerly winds complicated efforts to put it out.

Two firefighter tanker trucks with six personnel, four forest rangers, three firefighting crews of thirteen people, and two technicians from the Forestry and Rural Environment Department responded to the scene.

A helicopter from the Government of Navarra joined the operation, collecting 1,000 liters of water from Pasaia’s port. Video shows it dropping water on firefighters battling the blaze, with firefighters greeting the pilot happily.

By late Thursday night, both the right front near Hondarribi and the left front were under control. Firefighters left after 11:00 p.m. with the fire extinguished, though two crews stayed on site.

The Department of Forestry and Natural Environment had planned surveillance due to a yellow warning for wind and fire risk in Gipuzkoa. The alert came just after 12:30 p.m.

Personnel from Bidasoa and Tolosa fire stations, along with the Gipuzkoa Provincial Council’s Forestry Service, were dispatched. Forestry services coordinated the response.

This follows forest fires a month ago on Hernio and Izazpi mountains, where arson is suspected in one case. Southerly winds also worsened those blazes.

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