Cumbre del Sol left without 360º cameras to detect fires and other emergencies in real time
As announced by the Town Hall a few days ago, two 360º surveillance cameras have been installed at strategic points throughout the municipality, with the purpose of detecting incidents in real time, mainly forest fires, but also locating lost people, detecting power outages, monitoring inclement weather, etc. This technology will help to enable faster action and expand surveillance coverage throughout the municipality, including areas that are difficult to monitor.
The cameras will be managed and monitored exclusively by Civil Protection personnel, allowing them to identify and focus on areas of interest at critical moments. While this technology provides an operational advantage and speed, it will not replace proximity or direct attention to neighbours.
The project is also complemented by the installation of several weather stations in different areas of the municipality. The data provided by these stations is crucial, as it allows real-time visualisation of episodes of heavy rain or extreme heat, among other things, and provides more accurate information on the probability of fires in specific areas of the municipality, expanding the forecasts of official sources such as GVA or AEMET.
This initiative is part of a broader technological project funded under the PSTD (Destination Tourism Sustainability Plan), which seeks to equip El Poble Nou de Benitatxell with modern tools for emergency prevention and management.
OVFC asked councillor María José Ivars about the location of the two camaras. One is located at the water pumping station directly above LES overlooking the village and the urbanisations behind as Les Fonts and the other one on the roof of the town hall, but neither of the two camaras installed monitors Cumbre del Sol. OVFC asked the councillor why no camera has been installed at the very top of the Puig to overlook the entire Cumbre del Sol area. We quote the response received: “it has been the technicians' decision, but perhaps another grant could be obtained for a camera on the Puig overlooking Cumbre... the smoke from a fire would also be visible on the two cameras already installed”. In other words, a project included in the Destination Tourism Sustainability Plan does not protect the urbanisation where most tourists stay and where most of the municipality's dwellings are located.
We must remember the fires that occurred in 2023 in Barranc de la Viuda, next to Cala Llebeig, and in 2014 in Lirios, affecting Dalias, Pueblo Panorama and Pueblo del Mar, which would have gone undetected today without the new cameras that have been installed in November 2025.
The councillor also informed us that the weather stations have not yet been installed and that some of them will be to be located in Cumbre del Sol. She did not yet know whether the data from the weather stations would be accessible to everyone in real time.
I have never responded to anything in this group but excepted that this is the Spanish way. However, this latest development regarding the response to cumbre safety concerns with the safety cameras is unacceptable. In the 10 years we have had our property on the cumbre, we have experienced 2 major fires, that have affected our property. And now we learn that cameras on the Cumbre are of no consequence. The Benitachell council earn so much from taxes from the cumbre - and ever increasing. But yet again are let down from their response. At some stage, we need to say no services- no money. I am sick and tired of everyone wanting more money, but getting no services. Without Cumbre, the Benitachell council would cease to have such a footprint.
ReplyDeleteMany thanks
What?! This is disturbing news. I would say these cameras are for our protection indeed. On all levels.
ReplyDeleteA few years ago my husband, whose memory was deteriorating fast, lost his way in the streets of la Cumbre. I had to call for help several times. Local police, neighbors and once even the Guardia Civil had to search everywhere. Yes, we found him, but with a camera overview it would have been so much more convenient.
Nowadays he wears a smart watch, but how about lost children, pets, suspicious movements of vehicles, actual proof of robberies etc?
I am calling for civil protection!