Items filtered by date: February 2026

Due to its location within a forest interface zone, our development is subject to mandatory fire-risk regulations under Valencian and municipal legislation. This obliges us to hold a current, city-approved Self-Protection Plan against Forest Fires (Plan de Autoprotección frente al Riesgo de Incendios Forestales).

The Altamira community, working jointly with the neighbouring communities in Las Ramblas, appointed a specialised consultant to prepare the plan on behalf of all the participating urbanizations. The document has been submitted to the Orihuela City Council for review and approval.

This plan is for your own protection and for the protection of your neighbours.

AUTOPROTECTION PLAN - ENGLISH   PLAN DE AUTOPROTECCION - EPAÑOL

The plan is divided into three parts:

1. Protection for fire not to reach our area or to arise within our area.
2. Inner protection for fire to not spread to neighbours and not to enter our houses
3. Handling a fire situation

1. Protection for fire not to reach our area or to arise within our area

• Responsibility of the community/city of Orihuela
• Outer perimeter – we need to clear trees and vegetation around our area so in case of a forest fire, it doesn’t reach us. (p 52)
• Inner perimeter – the valley called “Zona Verde” needs to be cleared.

• Responsibility of the owners
• Barbecue, Paella Pans, open fire (p 45)
• following requirements must be met for a barbecue
  • The barbecue must be placed on a non-flammable surface (such as tiles or gravel) that extends at least 1 metre beyond the fire area on all sides.
  • It must have a ceiling and three full side walls (from floor to ceiling) to enclose charcoal barbecues.
  • Every smoke outlet (chimney or flue) must be fitted with a spark arrester made of non-flammable material and include a spark-arresting hood or cap.
  • No tree branches, vegetation or overhanging foliage may be present within a 3-metre radius of any smoke outlet.
  • It is strongly recommended to have a water supply point (tap, hose or extinguisher) located nearby.

• Chimneys
  • There must be spark arrester network of non-flammable material with a mesh opening of between 0.5 and 1 cm on a side, at most, without branches or elements that may obstruct it at a minimum distance of 3 meters

2. Inner protection for fire not to spread to neighbours and not to enter our houses.

• Responsibility of the community
• Treatment of vegetation next to roads (p 51)
  • We must clear vegetation in certain roads where it invades part of the road and the branches of the trees create a tunnel effect which can make evacuation difficult

• Responsibility of the owners
• In general, the buildings are made out of materials resistant to forest fires (p 15) Their vulnerability, therefore, is directly related to the chances that fire can enter. (P 29)
• It is therefore essential to identify and assess the importance of combustible elements attached to the home (especially furniture, plastic trunks or cabinets, wooden floors, in general any flammable material), weak points through which fire can enter and flammable material inside the home. (P 30)
• Flammable objects
  • Flammable items like fire wood, garden debris etc. must be stored in a protected area against possible fire
  • Avoid flammable objects, within 3 meters from the house
• Responsibility of the owners and the community
  • Vegetation (p 53)
    • Vegetation closer than 3 meters from the house is dangerous
    • The density of vegetation on private plots must be limited. Fire engineer may be asked for further details. (p 52)
    • Tall trees are dangerous and need to be pruned to 2/3 of their height or a maximum of 3 meters.
    • Avoid flammable hedges especially connected to each other without a fire wall.
    • Shaving the palm trees near buildings is recommended to reduce fire load

There is a recommendation for safe landscaping on p 73

3. Handling a fire situation

• Water
• We have sufficient access to water (p 42)

• Responsiblity of the community/city of Orihuela
• The water posts need to be reviewed and maintained and the water hydrants need signs. (p 54)
• Fire drill (p 49)
• We will arrange a fire drill so that the fire department becomes familiar with our area. There will be no time when all owners are here to participate, but it’s still worthwhile to have the fire department to know our area.

• Responsibility of the community
  • Parking signs to avoid chaos in case of fire (p 35, p 50)
    • Most of our roads are narrow with dead end that we can’t do anything about.We have put up signs with “dead end” if evacuation is needed.
    • Calle Pia is made a one-way street to allow traffic to flow.
    • Parking on narrow roads must leave a space of 4 m so cars can pass.

• Informing residents (p 47)
  This information will be sent to all owners and also be posted at the website where it will be available in all languages as per the website.

• Evacuation instructions in case of fire (short version)(p 58)

• Responsibility of the owners

• Call 112 (p 63) – Please note that you will need to give the blue numbers on Avenida Ramblas de Oleza to give the right location
• Bring out your fire extinguisher, water hose, shovel to suffocate with soil, fire blanket etc
• If possible without putting yourself at risk, retract awnings, remove cushions and any other flammable objects, close shutters, seal windows and doors.
• If the fire is near you, wear protective clothes
• Don't act without identifying a safe escape route

There is a more detailed instruction on personal self-protection measures on page 63-67 which we highly recommend you to read.

The fire prevention plan has been submitted  to the Orihuela Town Council for approval.

The current plan states that we need to reduce the density and the height of shrubs and trees in certain areas. These measures will inevitably have some impact on the visual appearance and character of our community.

The committee does not yet have definitive answers or detailed solutions for every aspect of the plan. However, we expect to be in a stronger position — after the clearance of the Zona Verde is executed together with the Orihuela Town Council —, to address the remaining areas, while striving to maintain an appropriate balance between effective fire risk reduction and preserving — as far as reasonably possible — the existing aesthetic appearance of the community.

Attached is a list of the areas that require further consideration.

We invite affected owners to submit any suggestions or proposals they may have. These will be carefully reviewed by the committee and, where feasible, incorporated into the final execution plan.

The areas in question are:

• Properties with a significant number of trees and/or dense scrub will be addressed individually
• Trees located between the golf course and properties in Calle Mayor.
  • These trees belong to the golf course, so the committee is not in a position to make decisions regarding them directly.
  • Nevertheless, we will include any relevant suggestions or recommendations from affected owners in our ongoing discussions with the golf course management. (Please note that the construction of a protective fence is not considered a viable option.)
• A few pines and palm trees on community land in the Los Lirios area located really close to the buildings need to be taken down.
• Areas in the slopes between Los Lirios blocks need to be trimmed.
• A strip of land behind houses 8-15 and also 200-205 belongs to the community and needs to stay trimmed.
• The neglected area behind houses 33-40 do not belong to our community

Kindly note that in our community some slopes are outside the property walls, however they still belong to the property and are not a community responsibility

We appreciate your cooperation and input in helping to refine this important community initiative.

Suggestions to be submitted to: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Kindly check our website www.lasramblas-Altamira.com regularly for updates

Plants and Trees to Avoid in South-East Spain

In the Mediterranean climate of South-East Spain (regions like Alicante, Murcia, and Almería), certain plants and trees have aggressive, invasive root systems that actively seek out moisture and nutrients.

These can penetrate cracks in drainage pipes, sewer lines, or water mains, leading to blockages, leaks, and costly repairs. The dry summers exacerbate this issue, as roots extend far in search of water.

Based on regional and general horticultural data, here are key species to avoid planting near underground utilities (keep at least 10-15 meters away if planting at all):

Advisable Plants and Trees for South-East Spain

Opt for drought-tolerant, native or adapted species with non-invasive, deep, or fibrous root systems that don't aggressively seek water sources.

These thrive in the hot, dry summers and mild winters of South-East Spain, require minimal irrigation once established, and pose low risk to pipes.

Plant them at least 3-5 meters from utilities for safety. Focus on Mediterranean natives for biodiversity and low maintenance.

Always consult local nurseries or extension services for site-specific advice, as soil type and pipe material influence risks.

Dear Owners,

At the last Annual General Meeting, it was agreed that short-term rentals of fewer than 10 days are no longer permitted in Altamira, and no new licenses will be issued. A small number of properties hold older licenses that remain valid. These are:

             36, 78, 79, 237, 244, 248, 261, 303, 367, 368

Any other short term rental activity is not authorized. Should anyone wish to report a suspected non-compliant rental, this should be communicated directly to Mar Azul, who will handle the matter.

Thank you for your cooperation and for helping us maintain a well managed and harmonious community.

Kind regards,
The President and the Committee of Altamira