Wildfire in Barcelona's Collserola hills stabilised after burning 54 hectares

A wildfire in the Collserola hills overlooking Barcelona has been stabilised after burning 45 hectares of forest.

All confinement orders were lifted overnight and evacuees were able to sleep at home, Barcelona deputy mayor Albert Batlle told media on Wednesday morning.

The area affected consists mainly of woodland and scrub in Collserola Natural Park, as well as an area closed off as part of the ongoing measures to control African swine fever (ASF).

Around 20 crews from the Catalan fire service continue to work alongside Barcelona firefighters to secure the fire's flanks by carrying out controlled burns and establishing the perimeter, while opening access lines to reach secondary hotspots.

Batlle said aircraft would join the firefighting effort on Wednesday morning, with the aim of bringing the blaze "under control" and "when the time comes, to extinguish it."

He stressed the need to be "very cautious" and urged residents to continue cooperating with authorities while work continues.

Recalling that Collserola has now recorded "two serious incidents" in recent weeks, the deputy mayor called for "extreme" caution over any activity that could affect "this very delicate environment."

"It is still August," Batlle said, urging people to "avoid any risky situation."

He added that there was currently "no indiction" that there were "criminal causes" behind the fire, but that "it must be investigated."

Sebastià Massagué, head of the Barcelona Fire Service, expressed optimism about the progress of the fire.

He warned that around midday, as temperatures rise and the heat intensifies, "the wind may pick up," calling for people to be "very cautious."

The Rural Agents, meanwhile, reiterated that access to the area is prohibited due to the ongoing measures to control African swine fever.

The fire broke out at around 3:20pm on Tuesday in an area of scrubland.

Civil Protection sent two ES-Alert messages ordering people in the Torre Baró and Ciutat Meridiana neighbourhoods to shelter indoors because of the wildfire.