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13 July 2005
VALENCIA — Authorities were hunting arsonists behind a forest fire which destroyed 700 hectares of land and left three people injured.
A fire fighter, a helicopter pilot and a helicopter mechanic were all injured while trying to put out the blaze between Simat de la Valldigna and Xátiva, in the province of Valencia in eastern Spain.
The fire fighter fractured both wrists during a fall while fighting the blaze.
The pilot and mechanic were slightly hurt when their helicopter suffered a breakdown and crashed during take-off.
Twenty-three different units of fire fighters, 13 aircraft and 200 people were helping to bring the blaze under control.
Authorities were appealing for any information relating to those who could have started the blaze.
Spain struggles to control a succession of forest fires every summer, many of which are started on purpose.
[Copyright EFE with Expatica]
Subject: Spanish news