Power pylon spark ignites Alicante fire, 2 homes cleared

Today's essentials (5 key points)

• A brush fire linked to sparks from an electricity pylon broke out in Alicante's La Alcoraya area on 13 August, forcing two homes to be evacuated before crews controlled it in about four hours.
• Alicante-Elche airport handled more than 2.3 million passengers in July, up 11.1% year on year and on track for a record annual total, according to Aena and the Olive Press.
• Denia's overhauled bus network carried 63,000 passengers in its first month, a 32% rise on the previous operator's best figures, La Marina Plaza reports.
• Elche mayor Pablo Ruz called on all levels of government to help fund the restoration of the Santa Maria basilica during a public session on 13 August.
• Benidorm hosts a packed weekend of music and parties from 14 to 16 August, while Altea's Arrels cycle returns with a tribute to 1960s and 70s musicians and a concert by Owix.

Today's essentials

Power pylon spark ignites Alicante fire, 2 homes cleared. A brush fire that broke out around 10am on Thursday 13 August in the rural area of La Alcoraya, in Alicante, forced the precautionary evacuation of two homes and burned roughly 20,000 square metres before crews stabilised it shortly before 2pm, according to elperiodic Alicante, which reports that the investigation points to sparks from an electricity pylon as the likely cause.

What you need to know

• Towns affected : Alicante, specifically the rural area of La Alcoraya.
• Roads closed or diverted : non communique a cette heure
• Official instructions : Two homes in the affected area were evacuated as a precaution; their occupants were able to return once the fire was controlled, according to elperiodic Alicante.
• Air quality : non communique a cette heure
• Official numbers & channels : 112 for emergencies; Emergencias GVA (Generalitat Valenciana) for official updates.
• Last updated : Around 2pm on Thursday 13 August, when the fire was stabilised, according to elperiodic Alicante.

Situation ongoing: this article will be updated.

Weather today

Today's weather on the Costa Blanca. The Costa Blanca sees overcast skies and highs between 25 and 33°C today, with wind up to 12 km/h, according to Open-Meteo, so keep water and shade handy in the hottest hours.

Transport & traffic

• Alicante-Elche, a heavyweight of Costa Blanca travel. Alicante-Elche airport has long anchored Costa Blanca tourism: back in 2016 it welcomed its 12 millionth passenger of the year, according to AlicanteOut. That figure is a handy yardstick for anyone flying in and out of the province today. A busy airport means more direct routes and more competition on fares, but it also means longer queues at security and car-hire desks in peak summer, so leaving extra time for departures from Alicante-Elche remains sound advice through August.
• Alicante-Elche airport up 11.1% in July. Operator Aena said on Wednesday that Alicante-Elche airport handled over 2.3 million passengers in July, an 11.1% jump on the same month a year earlier, in figures reported by the Olive Press. The airport is now on course to break its annual passenger record, which matters well beyond the arrivals hall: record traffic tends to keep summer flight frequencies high and supports the year-round routes many Costa Blanca residents rely on for trips back to the UK, Ireland and northern Europe. The flip side is a busier terminal, so if you are collecting friends or family this month, build in extra time for parking and pick-up.

What's changing for you

• Visiting Alicante on a budget. If you are hosting visitors or planning a cheap getaway from the Costa Blanca, a little planning goes a long way, according to AlicanteOut's budget-travel tips. The practical takeaways are the familiar ones worth repeating: book flights and accommodation well ahead of the August peak, travel midweek where you can, and lean on the tram and local buses rather than car hire for short hops along the coast. None of it is glamorous, but it is the difference between an affordable week and an expensive one when prices sit at their summer highest.

Local news to know

• Elche pushes for Santa Maria restoration funding. Elche mayor Pablo Ruz used the Misteri d'Elx board's public session on 13 August to call on every level of government to get involved in restoring the Santa Maria basilica, according to elperiodic Alicante.
• How Calp changed between 1970 and 1980. La Marina Plaza continues its series on a century of tourism with a look at how Calp transformed socially during the 1970s, the decade the town stopped being a village, a local history read rather than breaking news.
• Denia's new bus network hits 63,000 riders. Denia's revamped bus service carried 63,000 passengers in its first month, 32% more than the previous operator managed at its best, with the Les Marines and Les Rotes lines drawing the most riders, according to La Marina Plaza.

Tonight and tomorrow, the Costa Blanca

• Arrels d'Altea returns with a 60s-70s tribute. Informacion reports that Altea's Arrels cultural cycle is back this August for a second run built around local music, including a tribute to musicians of the 1960s and 70s and a concert by Owix.
• Benidorm this weekend, 14 to 16 August. Benidorm lines up a full weekend from 14 to 16 August with music and parties including BRESH and the Summer Urban Fest at Penelope, according to Life in Benidorm. Expect a typical mid-August mix of club nights, live sets and outdoor plans across the resort; if you fancy the headline parties, check timings and ticketing at the venues before you head out, as the big names sell out fast in peak season.

See the full agenda, tonight and tomorrow