Firefighters work to control the southern Catalonia wildfire

Six thousand hectares burned but firefighters announce the perimeter of the wildfire was “stabilized”

Operations officer of the Catalan firefighters Joan Rovira speaks to the media regarding the southern Catalonia wildfire. (Photo: Miquel Codolar)
Operations officer of the Catalan firefighters Joan Rovira speaks to the media regarding the southern Catalonia wildfire. (Photo: Miquel Codolar) / ACN

ACN | Barcelona

June 30, 2019 10:58 AM

Firefighters continue to work to control the wildfire in southern Catalonia on Sunday afternoon. On Saturday night, the fire crews announced the perimeter of the fire was stabilized, and earlier in the day their strategy had already moved from a standpoint of “defense” to “attack.”

Ultimately 6,000 hectares have been burned from the wildfire. Over the night there was no revival of the wildfire. 

"We will continue to be careful and make sure that we can react to any sign of revival in a critical point that we have the ability to react to keep the perimeter stabilized and have it controlled by the end of the day," said Joan Rovira, chief operating officer of the Catalan firefighters.

Rovira pointed out that the work overnight was consolidating the stabilization of the perimeter of the fire. Work will then move to control the blaze before it can be finally extinguished

The weather remains a high risk in the area and obliges them to maintain "prudence" and continue to monitor the perimeter.

The president of Catalonia, Quim Torra, will meet with the mayors of the Ribera d'Ebre on Sunday morning to analyze the situation of the fire in the region. In this meeting at the command center, the head of the government will be accompanied by the minister of the presidency, Meritxell Budó.

By Sunday morning, two of the main roads in the vicinity of the wildfire were reopened. When the fire first started, four roads were closed by police as part of the precautionary measures.