Girona wildfire triggers stay-at-home orders for two neighborhoods

Catalonia's Civil Protection agency issued a mobile phone alert on Friday afternoon to residents in two Girona neighborhoods warning them to stay indoors due to a wildfire in the Polvorí area.

The Font de la Pólvora neighborhood and the Les Pedreres housing development were warned to stay at home due to a fire that broke out around 2.30pm in a vegetated area.

The fire was declared stabilized by the fire department at 4.45pm, after burning an estimated 1.8 hectares of land, according to provisional data from the Rural Agents.

The lockdown order was lifted by Civil Protection at 5.49pm, who nevertheless warned residents to remain cautious and follow the instructions of the authorities.

They asked the public not to approach the area, as emergency crews continue to work. 

The fire department sent at least 25 units, five of them aerial, to try to stop the flames, with particular focus on those advancing toward the valley.

The terrain in the area includes both dry grass and vegetation.

A column of smoke was visible from several kilometers away.

The fire department received the alert at 2:34pm, and police units from the Mossos d'Esquadra and local police were also deployed to the scene.

According to a tweet by Girona City Council, the Infocat emergency plan was activated due to the fire in the Polvorí area, and residents of Les Pedreres and Font de la Pólvora were asked to stay indoors.

At 3:32pm, the fire department reported that the fire was progressing uphill through a forested area.

Aerial units dropped water at the head of the fire, and ground crews prioritized containment of the right flank to prevent the fire from spreading into the valley.

Civil Protection sent an Es-Alert with the lockdown order to residents of Font de la Pólvora and Les Pedreres, instructing them to close doors and windows, stay inside, and follow instructions from authorities.

In a tweet, Mayor Lluc Salellas thanked the emergency teams, who continued soaking the area to prevent flare-ups after the fire was stabilized.

"We ask everyone to exercise great caution today and every day in this area of the Gavarres, and anywhere else in the city," Salellas said.

Catalonia and wildfires

Catalonia is one of the European regions most vulnerable to wildfires. Its hot, dry summers, combined with strong winds, vast forested areas, and rugged terrain, create the perfect conditions for forest fires. 

Over the past decade, Catalonia has experienced an average of 500 wildfires per year, with around 1,800 hectares burned annually. 

Listen to the podcast below to learn more about Catalonia's wildfire strategy.