A girl suffered smoke poisoning as forest fires appeared to abate in northwest Spain, while in Portugal they continued to blaze on, authorities said Saturday, dpa reported. The Spanish fire in a forest fire near Orense destroyed a house and three outhouses, but was extinguished after a few hours, they said. A large forest fire near Caceres in western Spain was also brought under control after two days. Only smaller fires were still burning, authorities in the Extremadura region said. The fire, that is believed to have been lit deliberately, has destroyed almost 8,000 hectares of stone-pine forest or an area measuring more than 10,000 football pitches. About 1,000 residents had to flee their homes, as dozens of fire- fighters and more than 20 fire-fighting aircraft tried to douse the flames. A fire on the Spanish island of Gran Canaria that destroyed 350 hectares of forest in the centre and engulfed Tejeda Sierras Natural Park was also put out. Police are hunting a pair suspected of arson. About 1,000 people gathered Friday evening in Guadalajara at a memorial service for 11 firefighters, who were killed in a devastating fire in central Spain last week. Those attending included Spanish Crown Prince Felipe and his wife Princess Letizia. Meanwhile in Portugal, about 1,000 firefighters and helpers continued to battle five blazes - the biggest in Arganil, east of Coimbra, radio reports said. The Iberian Peninsula is currently experiencing its worst drought in decades which, coupled with extreme temperatures, has heightened the danger of forest fires. -- SP 2330 Local Time 2030 GMT
