Well, we have been here less than 24 hours and already been involved in one of the many fires that are destroying much of the landscape at the moment. After a lovely afternoon lunch at Crestatx and a wander around the area, we were driving back towards Pollenca Golf when above us buzzed into low view the fire helecopter with its huge red water bag slung underneath. The Canada plane was flying close by, not impeding the helecopters flight path. We were stopped by the guardia civil whilst fire trucks drove into a clearing and we could see smoke billowing hundreds of feet into the air, making visibility difficult for the water drop. But drop it did. The helecopter then flew off and we were allowed to carry on driving. We could see the helecopter then drop low towards the grounds of Pollenca Golf, where it dropped its water bucket into either a lake or a stream - I have not visited the club so do not know the layout - then rose again and flew back to the area. The Canada plane could be seen circling and obviously on spot alert for further oubreaks from the main fire. Even after driving back to Llenaire, we could see the smoke from miles away. The helicopter could no longer be seen, but the plane now seemed to be taking over. Flying back to the sea and plunging in to pick up water. Flying back to the smoking hillside it dropped its huge load above the area where the smoke could be seen, probably now doing a limitation exercise; soaking the area above to avoid it spreading. I do not think there were any human casualties, but you never know what buildings are tucked away behind the trees. A very worrying experience and one I hope we do not see much of on this holiday.
