Wildfire in Aiguamúrcia forces 2,500 into confinement as flames consume 114 hectares and threaten Catalan villages
A forest fire declared Sunday afternoon in Aiguamúrcia, Tarragona, has burned 114.82 hectares and forced the confinement of 2,500 residents across five municipalities, with firefighters working overnight to prevent the flames from reaching residential areas.
Fire breaks out and spreads rapidly
A wildfire ignited in the Vall d'Infern area of Aiguamúrcia (Alt Camp, Tarragona) on Sunday, 12 July 2026, shortly before 4:00 p.m. The alert was received by emergency services at 3:57 p.m. By 6:15 p.m., the fire had consumed 80 hectares of forest, and by 11:00 p.m. the affected area had grown to 114.82 hectares, 99% of which is wooded surface. The fire advanced at a speed of 2 kilometres per hour, emitting secondary spot fires up to 200 metres ahead of the main front. Wind gusts reached 28 kilometres per hour, with temperatures around 32°C and relative humidity at 30%.
The fire is burning forest vegetation at high intensity and on an upward slope.
Confinements and road closures
At 4:47 p.m., authorities ordered the confinement of approximately 2,500 people across five municipalities: Aiguamúrcia, La Llacuna, Pontons, Querol, and Torrelles de Foix. The order specifically covers the residential areas of Ranxos de Bonany, Bon Any, Valldossera, Can Llenes, Mas Gassons, El Mas Vermell, and Pontons. Civil Protection instructed residents to close doors and windows, avoid circulating in the area, and call 112 in case of emergency. The T-244 road between Aiguamúrcia and Querol has been fully closed to traffic. The fire jumped the first containment axis, the T-224 road, though authorities expect other sections of the route to help halt the flames.
Firefighting deployment and strategy
By late evening, 270 personnel and 86 ground units were working through the night, supported earlier by 14 aerial units. Two high-capacity aircraft were requested from the Ministry for Ecological Transition. Firefighters are prioritising the closure of both flanks to prevent the fire from opening new runs toward the confined residential areas. The left flank is receiving particular attention because it is advancing toward the urbanisations. Heavy machinery has been directed to a nearby area of open fields to create containment lines. Volunteer forest defence groups (ADF) are also assisting.
We will consider the fire stabilised when we have the certainty that the two flanks cannot open to make new runs toward the different urbanisations.
Potential scale and overnight outlook
Fire officials warn the fire could grow significantly. The sub-inspector of Rural Agents, Toni Mestres, stated that the forest continuity in the zone is "extremely large," meaning the affected area could expand considerably. One estimate puts the potential at over 2,000 hectares, while an earlier assessment suggested a potential of 1,000 hectares. The fire remains active, and firefighters do not expect to stabilise it on Sunday. Overnight work focuses on perimetring the fire and securing the flanks.
- Emergency alert received; fire reported in Vall d'Infern, Aiguamúrcia.
- Confinement ordered for 2,500 residents across five municipalities.
- Fire reaches 80 hectares; temperature 32°C, humidity 30%, wind gusts 28 km/h.
- Affected area grows to 108 hectares, per provisional data from Rural Agents.
- Fire shifts toward Querol and Pontons; officials warn of extreme forest continuity.
- Burned area reaches 114.82 hectares; 270 personnel work overnight to secure flanks.
Investigation into the cause
Rural Agents are investigating the origin of the fire and have not ruled out any hypothesis. The incident follows a fire last Wednesday in Pla de Manlleu, also in Aiguamúrcia, which is now under control. Authorities noted that three fires have been declared in the same area within the last week. Mestres thanked local councils for their work creating perimeter firebreaks, citing those built by Querol last year as an example of effective preparation.
