The start of another long heat wave has once again brought, as feared, new forest fires in Catalonia. After a few days of respite, coinciding with the drop in temperatures, the return of the feared heat and the fall in humidity activated two forest fires this Wednesday between Alt Camp, Baix Penedès, and Garraf, starting at noon, just as the thermometer began to reach maximum values. About 3,600 residents from urban centers and relatively close residential areas to the fires have been confined preventively and temporarily, controlled throughout the afternoon thanks to the intense work of the Generalitat Firefighters.
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A third fire affected a much more isolated area, at 2,000 meters altitude, on Pic de Salòria, in Os de Civís (Alt Urgell). It was also controlled after burning 1.2 hectares thanks to the intervention of Catalan and Andorran firefighters who were transported to the remote location by helicopter. A lightning strike is the most probable cause of this fire, according to the Rural Agents.
High temperatures force extreme precautions from tomorrow Thursday in 102 municipalities, with the closure of seven natural spaces
There is concern among the firefighting forces, Civil Protection, Rural Agents, and those responsible for managing emergency systems about what is to come in the coming days. The forecast is that the heat wave will intensify until reaching its peak over the weekend, with the arrival of wind ( marinada ) in the afternoons.
This Thursday, the number of municipalities with extreme fire risk activation (Alfa plan) will double in Catalonia, reaching 102 urban centers across 17 different counties under the threat of a major forest fire. The forecast is that access to seven natural spaces will be closed to visitors: Montmell-Marmellar, Prades, Montsant, Baronia de Rialb, Montsec de Rúbies, Montsec D’Ares, and Ribera Salada.
In addition to the prohibitions, there is a call to take extreme precautions to prevent the spread of fire in forest areas, with experience and data showing that most forest fires originate from human activity, whether accidental, negligent, or malicious. The Canyelles forest fire started early this afternoon due to negligence, caused by a group having a barbecue.
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The first forest fire of this new heat wave started between the municipalities of Montferri and Bonastre, straddling the counties of Alt Camp and Baix Penedès. The fire began right at noon with great intensity, with rapid jumps and secondary fires.
The situation quickly activated a large deployment of Firefighters, concentrating ground and aerial forces thanks to the fact that there were no other active fires in Catalonia.
The work of about fifty personnel, including nearly a dozen aerial resources, was key to containing the advance of the flames after affecting a dozen hectares. Another factor favored the Firefighters: a vineyard and other crop area, in a place where the mosaic landscape is maintained thanks to the farmers. Before six in the afternoon, Civil Protection lifted the confinement of the 600 affected residents from the centers of Masllorenç and Masarbones, in Baix Penedès, and several nearby residential areas (la Font d’en Talló, la Pineda de Santa Cristina, Torre Forta de Santa Cristina, and Coll de la Rubiola).
In Canyelles (Garraf), after the forest fire was declared stabilized, the confinement of 3,200 residents was also lifted this afternoon, between the urban center and several nearby residential areas (Les Palmeres, Muntanya del Mar, Selva Meravelles, and Califòrnia). It barely affected a couple of hectares of forest mass.
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