The wildfire that broke out on Thursday and is ravaging southern Spain has already left at least 12 people dead and has once again raised the question that almost nobody asks until it is too late: what to do if the flames catch up with you.
The blaze is now the second most serious in the country in terms of loss of life and has forced the preventive evacuation of around 800 people from the municipality of Bédar and several neighbouring hamlets.
Civil Protection, the Military Emergency Unit (UME) and the rescue services always stress the same point: following a few basic guidelines can make the difference between life and death.
If a fire catches you outdoors
The first rule is not to run blindly. You need to move away from the fire front along the sides, against the direction of the wind and, if the terrain allows, seek shelter in an area that has already burned. In areas like that, the fuel has already disappeared and the fire can't reignite.
