Forest fire in Sant Quirze Safaja stabilised after 700 residents and tourists were confined for hours

Outbreak and immediate response

Just after 13:00 on Wednesday, a forest fire ignited alongside the BV-1341 road in Sant Quirze Safaja, close to the l'Illa campsite and a nearby restaurant. The Bombers de la Generalitat were alerted at 13:22 and initially asked those inside the two establishments to remain indoors. As the flames climbed the slope, the confinement was extended at 14:57 to all residents of the municipality and its outlying urbanisations and scattered houses, affecting approximately 700 people. The BV-1341 road was cut to traffic as a safety measure.

The Generalitat's emergency system sent an ES-Alert message to mobile phones at 15:30, ordering people to close doors and windows and avoid moving through the area.

Firefighting effort and difficult terrain

Throughout the afternoon, 31 ground units and seven aircraft worked to encircle the perimeter. The terrain's inaccessibility and falling rocks triggered by water drops from helicopters complicated operations. Crews focused on closing the flanks, with the left flank proving the most active for much of the day. A spokesperson explained that the goal was to completely surround the fire's perimeter, after which it would be considered stabilised.

At 19:59, that milestone was reached. Six ground units were to remain overnight to attempt to bring the fire under full control.

Impact and extent

Provisional data from the Agents Rurals put the burned area at a minimum of 16 hectares, the majority forest land. Earlier estimates had reported 7 hectares. No injuries or evacuations were reported, and the mayor, Carlos Lupiáñez, noted that the flames veered away from the town.

“I had some moments of suffering because the flames were heading towards a children's centre and an animal refuge, but luckily it turned around and is moving away from the village.”

Causes and wider context

The Rural Agents said they were investigating the cause of the fire, which started right beside a road. The incident unfolded on the Sant Joan holiday in Catalonia, a day when firefighters also tackled a topographical fire in Isil (Lleida) and stabilised a blaze in the Gurp range of Tremp. The Meteo conditions, including wind, shaped the fire's behaviour and extinction strategy throughout the afternoon.