Wildfire near Costa Brava forces quarantine of 10 towns and evacuation of 150 people as Spain braces for second heatwave
A fast-moving wildfire in Catalonia has burned up to 2,300 hectares, forced the evacuation of 150 people including a children's camp, and placed 10 towns under quarantine. Spain is deploying a military emergency unit as a new heatwave threatens to worsen conditions.
Fire outbreak and evacuations
The fire broke out on Friday near La Bisbal d'Emporda, about 20 km from the Mediterranean coast. Strong winds drove flames rapidly, creating a dense smoke cloud. Authorities evacuated 150 people, including 70 children from a summer camp. Ten towns were placed under quarantine, with no entry or exit, affecting over 12,000 residents and tourists. Roads including the C-66 were closed, and officials urged people to avoid traveling to the Baix Empordà, Gironès, and Pla de l'Estany regions.
Firefighting efforts
More than 200 firefighters and 11 aerial units are battling the blaze, which has reached the protected Les Gavarres natural area. The Catalan interior minister Nuria Parlon said the fire had burned 1,280 hectares, while other reports put the figure at 2,300 hectares. Firefighters describe it as a sixth-generation fire, with rapid spread and pyro-cumulus clouds. The Spanish prime minister Pedro Sanchez confirmed on X the deployment of the Military Emergency Unit (UME). Catalan government head Salvador Illa had requested military assistance.
The fire has burned 1,280 hectares.
- Fire breaks out near La Bisbal d'Emporda, Catalonia.
- 150 people evacuated, including 70 children from a summer camp.
- 10 towns placed under quarantine, affecting over 12,000 people.
- Over 200 firefighters and 11 aerial units deployed.
- Catalan police arrest suspect for arson.
- Spanish PM confirms UME military unit deployment.
- Fire reaches Les Gavarres protected natural area.
- AEMET warns of second heatwave and high fire risk.
Arrest and investigation
Catalan police Mossos d'Esquadra arrested a man suspected of starting the fire. No further details were immediately available.
Heatwave and fire risk
The state meteorological agency AEMET warned on 3 July that a second heatwave of the year would begin on Sunday, with temperatures reaching 38–41°C in parts of the south, west, and river valleys. The agency urged caution, especially for the elderly, and noted a high fire risk. The first heatwave in late June contributed to over 1,000 heat-related deaths, according to the MoMo mortality monitoring system.
Historical context
Spain's interior ministry reports over 8,000 fires so far this year, with eight deaths and 86 injuries. In 2025, wildfires burned nearly 355,000 hectares, the worst year in three decades, according to the Ministry for Ecological Transition. The largest fires last year hit Castile and León, Galicia, and Extremadura, killing several people and forcing tens of thousands to evacuate.
