Key facts
- A British woman is seeking answers from Spain's government regarding the deaths of her parents in a wildfire.
- Pete and Fran Gillam died in mid-July in Bédar, Almería, during a wildfire that killed 13 people.
- Their daughter disputes claims that her parents ignored evacuation orders, stating they were not told to leave until it was too late.
- The official emergency alert system was not used, and evacuation orders were delivered late by a lone police officer.
- The daughter is calling for a full investigation into the incident.
The daughter of a British couple killed in a Spanish wildfire has rejected claims that her parents ignored evacuation orders, stating they were not informed until it was too late. Pete and Fran Gillam, who lived in Bédar, Almería, were among 13 people who died in mid-July as wildfires swept through the region.
Danielle Kirton, their daughter, has been seeking answers from the Spanish government, highlighting that the evacuation order came more than three hours after the initial fire alert. She stated that the official emergency alert system was not used, and a lone police officer was seen "frantically driving from house to house" to inform residents.
Kirton shared messages from her mother indicating they were not initially concerned, as the fire appeared distant. However, they became trapped while attempting to evacuate after stopping to warn a neighbor. Kirton asserted that her parents would have followed any clear instructions and criticized Spanish politicians for blaming victims.
She also expressed disappointment with the UK Foreign Office's response, describing it as a "slap in the face" with "nonexistent" consular help. Kirton is working with UK politician Ed Miliband to urge Spanish authorities to conduct a thorough investigation.
Scientists attribute the intensification of wildfires to the climate crisis, and Kirton stressed the importance of learning lessons from this tragedy to prevent future loss of life.