Wildfire in Guimerà reignites after stabilisation, forcing 21,000 Catalonians into confinement
A wildfire in Guimerà, Lleida, that had been stabilised overnight flared back up on Thursday afternoon, triggering a confinement order for some 21,000 residents across five municipalities and an industrial estate.
Reactivation
After being stabilised at 00:50 on Thursday morning, the Guimerà wildfire reignited around 18:30 in unscythed fields near Montornès de Segarra. The flames had originally broken out on Wednesday night and were thought under control. By Thursday evening, the fire was again active, with the capacity to throw secondary foci, and had reached forest vegetation and unharvested cropland.
- Fire starts in Guimerà (Lleida) on Wednesday night.
- Fire declared stabilised by fire crews.
- Flames reactivate in fields near Montornès de Segarra.
- Civil Protection sends ES-ALERT ordering confinement of 21,000 people.
Confinement order
Civil Protection sent an ES-ALERT at about 19:05, ordering residents of Tàrrega (capital of Urgell, more than 19,000 inhabitants), Verdú, Vilagrassa, Granyanella, and the nucleus of Mas Bondia, as well as the Riambau industrial estate, to stay indoors. Roughly 21,000 people were affected. Roads LV-2101 and LV-2010 were cut by regional police.
Close doors and windows. Do not go outside and follow the instructions of the authorities.
Firefighting deployment
Between 20 and 29 ground crews, five aircraft, and four to seven helicopters worked the fire in a 383-hectare operational area, concentrating on the right flank to protect a farm. The fire had already burned 161 hectares, 102 of which lie inside the Granyena protected natural area, mostly agricultural surface.
We are 40 neighbours confined about three kilometres from the fire; the firefighters have been damping down the ground all day.
Second front at Cap de Creus
In a separate incident, a fire broke out near the lighthouse of Cap de Creus, destroying a vehicle, several containers, and low scrub. Ten crews were deployed to that scene.
