Catalonia government lifts lockdown as firefighters bring Girona blaze under control

After an intense afternoon of work by firefighters on Sunday, the fire that has torn through 2,300 hectares and destroyed eight houses, is now said to be under control.

More than 500 people, including firefighters, members of the Military Emergency Unit (UME), volunteers from the Forest Defence Group (ADF), and farmers, also worked overnight to contain the wildfire which spread into the Gavarres mountain range, according to Spanish media.

But the risk isn’t over yet as there are fears that the intensifying temperatures in the region could ignite further hotspots.

Firefighters have therefore been working on the 40-kilometre-long perimeter to ensure that the fire – which has the potential to spread to some 10,000 kilometres – does not reignite, Eduard Martínez, head of operations for the Catalan Fire Service said.

Furthermore, it could take days to extinguish the blaze completely, said Salvador Illa, president of the government of Catalonia.

Weather alerts for Tuesday. Image: Aemet

He said it could be out by the middle of the coming week, but remained cautious amid the fresh heatwave in the region.

Temperatures are expected to increase further on Monday when highs could exceed 42C in many parts of the country before potentially climbing to 44C on Tuesday.

Lockdown lifted

On Sunday, the regional government said that residents of the eight municipalities that had been confined to their homes (Calonge i Sant Antoni; Castell d’Aro, Platja d’Aro i s’Agaró; Cruïlles, Monells i Sant Sadurní de l’Heura; Forallac; La Bisbal d’Empordà; Llagostera; and Santa Cristina d’Aro) were now allowed to go out.

A post on X from Spain’s National Civil Protection agency details the sending of alerts on the lifting of the lockdown and advises residents to remain cautious and follow instructions from the authorities.

However, restrictions remained in place for those with homes within the fire perimeter – they are only allowed out briefly and with police accompaniment. 

And the Gavarres massif remains closed, with access prohibited for all sports or leisure activities.

The restriction is due to remain in place until midnight on July 10th. The Catalan government has urged people to be cautious as “we cannot afford simultaneous operations” while the fire department has asked people not to engage in “fire tourism”.

READ ALSO: What to do and what to avoid if you see a wildfire in Spain

Eleven people, including five civilians, have been injured, since the forest fire broke out on Friday, according to the Catalan Fire Service.

The worker arrested for starting the fire while using an angle grinder at the roadside has been released after appearing before the duty judge at the Bisbal court of first instance on Sunday, according to the High Court of Justice of Catalonia (TSJC), Spanish media reported.

The man, who works for a joint venture formed by Aquaterra and Rubau, which carries out road maintenance, remains under investigation for the forest fire.

Fire worsens in Huesca

Over in the northeastern province of Huesca, meanwhile, a fire that started in the Loporzano municipality on Saturday has worsened. 

The government of Aragon have therefore activated a special civil protection plan for forest fire emergencies to request the mobilisation of the Military Emergency Unit and the evacuation of the 30 residents who live in the villages of Chibluco and San Julián de Banzo.  

Forest fire alerts for Aragon. Image: Infoar

Efforts are focused on “smothering” the fire and “dropping a lot of water” to cool the ground, Luis Biendicho, the Aragon minister of environment and tourism said on Sunday, according to Spanish media.

The alert level for the risk of forest fire was raised to red, the highest level, in Aragon on Sunday.

A total of 17 areas are under red alert on Sunday, according to Infoar, the official forest fire prevention service for the regional government of Aragon.