After months of summer restrictions, barbecue season is back in full swing across the Costa del Sol. But Mijas local government and police are reminding residents that one careless fire could have serious consequences, particularly at a popular recreation area covered by trees and close to vulnerable countryside.

The Ayuntamiento de Mijas has issued a warning urging people to take extra care when using the public barbecues at Parque El Esparragal, near Mijas Golf.

The park is a popular spot for family birthday parties, weekend gatherings and outdoor meals, with free public barbecue facilities available for visitors. However, its location presents particular concerns when it comes to preventing wildfires.

With local people making the most of the milder autumn weather after a long, hot summer, the park is once again attracting people keen to get together around a traditional barbecue. Local police patrols have also been seen in the area, underlining the importance of responsible behaviour when using the facilities.

Why El Esparragal is a major concern

The park has extensive tree cover and lies close to areas where a fire could spread into surrounding vegetation, including the Entrerrios area.

A barbecue may appear harmless when used in a designated cooking area, but embers can escape, while hot ash and improperly extinguished charcoal can pose a danger long after the cooking has finished.

Mijas has previously explained that El Esparragal falls within a forest-influence zone, making it subject to seasonal restrictions on the use of fire. The council has specifically identified the park as being within 400 metres of forest land in its previous warning about barbecue restrictions at El Esparragal.

Under Andalucian regulations, the highest fire-risk period normally runs from June 1 to October 15. However, the rules governing fires in forest and forest-influence areas depend on the location and the activity involved. Residents should consult the Andalucian government’s forest fire prevention rules and follow any local instructions.

The danger is not theoretical. In July 2025, a wildfire spread around Mijas Golf, with firefighters working through the night to contain the flames.

How to barbecue responsibly

Residents using the facilities should take particular care to make sure that fires are properly controlled and completely extinguished after use.

Practical precautions include:

• Never leave a lit barbecue unattended.
• Keep combustible materials away from the cooking area.
• Make sure charcoal and embers are completely extinguished before leaving.
• Dispose of ash safely rather than leaving hot residue behind.
• Follow any signs, instructions or temporary restrictions issued by the authorities.

El Esparragal provides a valuable public space for families and residents to enjoy the outdoors. Taking sensible precautions can help keep it available for everyone without putting nearby homes, woodland and countryside at risk.

Shoppers across Spain are being urged to stop spending for 24 hours on Wednesday, November 11, as consumer association FACUA calls for a nationwide shopping boycott over rising living costs. The appeal covers everything from supermarket purchases and petrol to new energy and telecommunications contracts.

The proposed action, described as a huelga de compras, or shopping strike, will coincide with a general strike scheduled for the same day.

For British residents and other foreign nationals living in Spain, the initiative raises a practical question: will supermarkets, petrol stations and other businesses remain open?

The shopping boycott is voluntary. It does not mean that stores will be legally required to close or that consumers will be prevented from buying essential goods.

According to FACUA’s announcement published on October 23, the organisation is encouraging people to avoid shopping and signing up for new services throughout the day to draw attention to the loss of purchasing power.

Why Spain is calling for a 24-hour shopping boycott

FACUA-Consumidores en Acción announced the initiative on Friday, October 23, urging consumers to take part in a day without purchases on November 11. The association argues that the rising cost of essential goods and services is making everyday life increasingly difficult for households in Spain.

Its concerns extend beyond supermarket prices to housing costs, mortgage payments, electricity bills and fuel.

FACUA says the combination of higher living expenses and reduced purchasing power is placing additional pressure on families, particularly those already struggling to cover their basic needs.

FACUA wants consumers to express their dissatisfaction by temporarily withholding spending across shops and service providers, rather than targeting a single retailer or industry.

The association is also calling on public authorities, political representatives and businesses to address what it sees as growing inequality and difficulties accessing essential goods and services.

The initiative comes amid wider discussions about the cost of living in Spain, where housing affordability and household expenses remain major concerns for many residents.

However, the campaign is not specifically directed at foreign residents. FACUA is inviting consumers across Spain to participate, regardless of nationality.

The proposed shopping strike is also separate from an earlier call to boycott Spain’s major supermarket chains for a week. That proposal focused on food prices and did not establish a specific date, whereas FACUA’s latest initiative covers a wider range of spending and is scheduled for November 11.

What shoppers are being asked not to buy on November 11

The consumer association is asking people to avoid making purchases or taking out new service contracts for the full 24 hours.

This includes everyday shopping in supermarkets, local businesses and other retail outlets, as well as online purchases.

FACUA is also encouraging drivers not to refuel their vehicles during the day.

According to Europa Press’s report on the announcement, the association wants consumers to postpone certain administrative and commercial transactions involving essential services.

These include signing up for new electricity or gas contracts, changing energy tariffs, arranging telecommunications services and entering into new agreements with financial institutions.

The intention is to extend the protest beyond physical shops and demonstrate how household spending affects several sectors of the economy.

For residents considering changing their electricity supplier, arranging a new mobile phone contract or opening a bank account, FACUA’s request is simply to postpone those transactions for the day if they wish to participate.

Importantly, the campaign does not instruct people to stop paying bills that are already due.There is also no suggestion that existing rental payments, mortgage instalments or utility obligations should be ignored.

The distinction matters because a voluntary shopping boycott is not the same as withholding legally required payments.

Likewise, the appeal does not mean consumers must go without essential food, medication or other necessities.Those who choose to participate can make their own decisions about which purchases or transactions to postpone.

Will supermarkets and petrol stations stay open on November 11?

FACUA’s appeal does not require supermarkets, petrol stations or other businesses to close on November 11. Shops may continue trading as usual, although the separate general strike could affect some services depending on staff participation.

However, November 11 is also the date of a separate general strike, which could affect staffing and services depending on participation and the arrangements made by individual businesses.

The distinction between the two actions is important.The shopping boycott is an appeal to consumers, while the general strike concerns workers and their participation in industrial action.

For anyone travelling on the day, transport arrangements may also require attention.

As Euro Weekly News previously reported on Spain’s November 11 general strike, travellers should monitor announcements from airlines and transport operators for information about possible disruption.

At this stage, FACUA’s shopping campaign does not establish which shops will open, which employees may strike or whether particular services will be interrupted.

Nor is there a confirmed estimate of how many consumers will participate or how much spending might be postponed.

For British residents and visitors, the key point is that November 11 is being promoted as a voluntary day without shopping. Anyone planning to visit a supermarket, refuel or travel that Wednesday should check the latest information from the relevant businesses and transport providers.

Drivers travelling along the A-7 between Malaga and the Axarquia faced disruption on Saturday afternoon, October 24, after a motorhome caught fire near Benagalbon.

Dramatic photographs shared on social media show the front of the white motorhome engulfed in towering flames, with thick smoke rising above the vehicle beside the carriageway. Flames spread to nearby woodland, requiring the intervention of Infoca, Andalucia’s forest-fire service.

The incident was recorded by Spain’s traffic authority, the Dirección General de Tráfico (DGT), at 4.59pm. Its traffic alert identified a vehicle fire affecting the A-7 between kilometre points 966 and 967.9, in Malaga province.

A-7 traffic disruption near Rincon de la Victoria

The DGT initially classified the incident at yellow service level, indicating traffic disruption. Its alert stated that all lanes were affected.

The location is between the municipalities of Rincon de la Victoria and Velez-Malaga, close to Benagalbon, on a stretch of road used daily by residents travelling between the Axarquia, Malaga city and the western Costa del Sol.

Images from the DGT’s traffic cameras later showed the burned-out remains of the vehicle beside the road, emergency personnel at the scene and queues of traffic building up behind the incident.

Motorists reported delays towards Torre del Mar, although the full extent and duration of the congestion have not been confirmed. The A-7 has seen other unusual incidents, including an earlier lorry fire near Rincon de la Victoria that caused lengthy motorway queues.

What caused the motorhome fire?

The photographs appear to show the fire concentrated around the front of the motorhome, potentially in the engine compartment. However, the cause has not been confirmed, and there is no verified information about whether anybody was injured. The stretch of motorway, with a steep incline, and often rapid changes of gear, has become notorious for engine fires in older vehicles over the years.

Drivers approaching an incident of this kind should slow down, follow instructions from emergency personnel and traffic officers, and leave enough room for emergency vehicles to pass. Anyone encountering stationary traffic should avoid using the hard shoulder to bypass the queue, as it may be needed by emergency services.

Motorists heading between Malaga and the Axarquia should check the DGT’s live traffic updates before setting off, particularly if travelling through Rincon de la Victoria or towards Torre del Mar.

The DGT alert confirmed that the fire was first reported at 4.59pm on Saturday. At the time of the available information, it was not clear when traffic returned to normal or what caused the motorhome to catch fire.