A fast-moving wildfire in Catalonia's Costa Brava region has consumed approximately 750 hectares of woodland, forcing authorities to confine around 12,000 residents in several municipalities across the province of Girona. The blaze, which ignited near La Bisbal d'Empordà on Tuesday morning, has been propelled by the region's characteristic tramontane wind, creating a towering column of smoke visible for kilometres.
The Catalan government has formally requested assistance from Spain's Military Emergencies Unit (UME) to combat the fire, which rural agents suspect may have been sparked by mechanical work on a nearby road. President of the Generalitat, Salvador Illa, warned of the fire's severity and urged strict compliance with official instructions. Authorities in Barcelona advised against travel to the Baix Empordà, Gironès, and Pla de l'Estany districts to keep roads clear for emergency services.
Preventive Confinements and Mobile Alerts
The fire, still out of control after entering the Gavarres massif, has led to preventive stay-at-home orders across several towns in the Empordà region. Mobile phone alerts via the Es-Alert system were sent to approximately 40,000 people whose devices were within range of affected cell towers. At a holiday camp under lockdown, 150 children are reported safe and well.
In a separate incident, a second wildfire in Vilavenut, also in Girona province, forced residents of the villages of Vilavenut and Palol de la Farga to remain indoors. Alerts were issued to the local population as the fire advanced through farmland.
These events come as Spain enters peak wildfire season, with over 50,000 hectares already burned this year across the country.
Firefighting Efforts and Road Closures
Firefighters deployed more than fifty crews, including eleven aircraft, to tackle the La Bisbal blaze. The fire, which started at 09:17, has created secondary fronts in the Gavarres. Teams are focusing on its right flank to prevent it from spreading toward the coast, as a shift to a sea breeze could alter the fire's behaviour. The Vilavenut fire, which began around midday, is being fought with three aircraft and 17 ground units, supported by tractors ploughing firebreaks through the farmland.
The wildfires have forced the closure of several roads, including the C-66 at Palafrugell and routes in Cornellà del Terrí, Vilademuls, La Bisbal d'Empordà, Calonge, Banyoles, and Llagostera. On social media, residents have shared videos and images of the flames in the Gavarres mountains, expressing solidarity with firefighters and those affected.
Similar blazes have struck elsewhere in southern Europe this summer. Southern France wildfires forced the evacuation of 3,000 people as a heatwave persisted, while Portugal mobilised over 1,000 firefighters to combat heatwave-fuelled fires.
The tramontane wind, a dry, northerly wind common in the Empordà region, has historically exacerbated fire risk. With climate change increasing the frequency of extreme weather events, European authorities are bracing for a challenging wildfire season. The Catalan government continues to monitor both fires, with no immediate reports of injuries or structural damage.
