The statements of all the political group representatives and the complaints of the people of Manilva yesterday have been of no avail. The Provincial Fire Consortium of Málaga, which comes under the Provincial Government (Diputación), today, 10 June 2025, ordered the immediate closure of the Manilva fire station, according to an internal order signed this Tuesday by the body’s technical director, Francisco Soriano. The official document, seen by this outlet, establishes the urgent relocation of staff and operational equipment to the Parque Central in Estepona, effective from today.
The Consortium justifies the decision by citing «serious operational deficiencies» in the station’s current infrastructure, which make it «unsuitable as a workplace». The measure will remain in place indefinitely, that is, with no set date for reopening, until a new fire station is built in a location that is yet to be determined — areas such as San Luis de Sabinillas or Casares Costa are being considered.
«This restructuring makes the Estepona station a centralised base, as already happens in Torremolinos or Vélez-Málaga», the internal order states.
The affected staff will continue working from Estepona under the same conditions and shifts already in place, using the usual operational platform.
MAXIMUM TENSION IN MANILVA
The news has caused unease among residents and political representatives in the municipality, who have spent days voicing their outright opposition to the closure. In recent days, the whole Municipal Corporation — PP, PSOE, IU, Compromiso Manilva and VOX — signed a joint motion demanding that the service be maintained. The Andalusian Firefighters’ Union (Sindicato Andaluz de Bomberos) also expressed its rejection of a measure it considers a direct threat to public safety and contrary to the operational plans in force.
«A whole district is being left unprotected. This decision is a very serious mistake«, municipal sources said yesterday at the demonstration held against the closure.
The Manilva station was one of the busiest in the province, and its closure will lead to a considerable increase in emergency response times in areas such as Casares, El Secadero, Manilva and Sabinillas.
