A fast-moving wildfire on the Costa Brava has consumed approximately 750 hectares of woodland and prompted stay-at-home orders for around 12,000 people across several municipalities in the province of Girona. The blaze, which erupted in La Bisbal d'Empordà, is being propelled by the strong tramontana wind, complicating firefighting efforts.
The Catalan regional government has requested assistance from Spain’s Military Emergencies Unit (UME) to contain the fire, which may have been ignited by mechanical work on a nearby road, according to the Rural Agents. President Salvador Illa described the situation as serious and urged residents to follow official instructions without deviation. The Generalitat has advised people in the Barcelona metropolitan area to avoid travelling to the Baix Empordà, Gironès, and Pla de l'Estany districts to keep roads clear for emergency vehicles.
Lockdowns and Mobile Alerts
Preventive confinement has been imposed on several towns in the Empordà region, affecting roughly 12,000 people. In addition, some 40,000 residents have received Es-Alert mobile warnings, triggered by the coverage area of local mobile phone antennas. A holiday camp housing 150 minors is among the affected sites, though all children are reported safe.
A second wildfire, which broke out around midday in Vilavenut, is advancing through agricultural land. Residents of Vilavenut and Palol de la Farga have also been told to stay indoors, with alerts sent to the local population. Firefighters are deploying tractors to plough the land and slow the flames.
Firefighting Operations and Road Closures
More than 50 firefighting crews, including 11 aerial units, are battling the La Bisbal fire. The blaze, declared at 09:17, has generated secondary outbreaks in the Les Gavarres massif. Teams are concentrating on the right flank to prevent the fire from spreading toward the coast, as a shift to a sea breeze could alter its trajectory.
The Vilavenut fire is being tackled by three aerial assets and 17 ground units. The fires have forced the closure of several roads, including the C-66 at Palafrugell, as well as routes in Cornellà del Terri, Vilademuls, La Bisbal d'Empordà, Calonge, Banyoles, and Llagostera.
This incident follows a pattern of intense wildfire activity across southern Europe this summer. Earlier this month, Portugal mobilised over 1,000 firefighters as a heatwave fuelled blazes, and southern France saw 3,000 people evacuated due to wildfires. Spain itself has already entered peak wildfire season, with 50,000 hectares burned across the country this year.
The tramontane wind, a dry, northerly wind common in Catalonia, is notorious for fanning flames and making containment difficult. Firefighters remain on high alert as the situation evolves.
