Wildfire in southern Catalonia burns 3,100 hectares and forces 18,000 people to confine

A wildfire in Paüls, in the southern county of Baix Ebre, has already burned 3,173 hectares and forced 18,000 people to confine.

The fire, which broke out around midday on Monday, became "extreme" overnight due to a sudden wind shift, putting firefighters in a critical situation.

David Borrell, head of the firefighting unit, described the night as "very complicated" due to the Mistral, a northwesterly wind that brought gusts of up to 90 km/h.

Of the almost 3,200 hectares already burned, nearly 2,300 hectares is forest land, around 820 hectares is agricultural terrain, and 25 hectares is urban land, forest rangers confirmed.

The stay-at-home orders now affect the towns of Paüls, Aldover, Xerta, Alfara de Carles, Jesús, Bitem, Roquetes, Tivenys, and the neighborhood of Reguers in Tortosa. Civil Protection also issued local confinement (meaning they are not allowed to leave their municipality) for Prat del Comte and Pinell de Brai.

There are currently nearly 90 ground units, with a total of 300 firefighters actively working on the terrain.

During the night, firefighters called in all their personnel, even those not on duty, in what is known as an M2 emergency call. Going to work is compulsory, and the brigades had to arrive at their sites as soon as possible.

The Catalan government also requested assistance from the Emergency Military Unit (UME), Spain’s rapid response military force, which has since deployed over 218 troops to the area.

Crucial wind shift

In an update on Tuesday midday, Catalan interior minister Núria Parlon confirmed that the fire is not expected to be stabilized, nor the confinement orders lifted, at least until Tuesday night.

Officials anticipate another change in wind direction around 2 pm, which could either create a window of opportunity to bring the fire under control or cause it to spread to new areas.

Francesc Boya, deputy director of the firefighters, explained that their current focus is on containing the left flank of the fire to prevent it from reaching the Ports natural park.

The forecasted wind shift could push the fire toward that area, which Boya warned would have "very negative consequences."

He explained that the fire currently has a perimeter of around 3,500 hectares. If it spreads into the Ports natural park, the affected area could increase significantly, not only due to the additional forest land at risk, but also because of the park’s difficult terrain and limited access for firefighters.

"We're facing major difficulties in deploying water lines, and aircraft are experiencing turbulence in some zones. This is not a typical operation, we’re facing many challenges and our progress is slower than usual," he said.

Boya did not rule out the possibility that the change in wind could cause the fire to spread to nearby towns, particularly those to the north, such as Paüls.

However, he urged people not to panic, stating that the fire is still some distance from inhabited areas. Nevertheless, given the unprecedented wind gusts overnight, the outcome of the approaching wind shift is uncertain.

Nevertheless, Boya expressed hope that the fire could be stabilized by tonight if the upcoming wind shift brings more favorable conditions.

Critical night

Although the wind shift on Monday night had been expected and firefighters had warned it could worsen conditions, the intensity of what followed exceeded all forecasts.

Between 10 pm and 1am, gusts reaching up to 90 km/h pushed the fire, which had been partially contained, completely out of control.

By around 1 am, firefighters announced they were prioritizing rescues and the protection of critical infrastructure over fire containment, a protocol reserved for the most severe emergencies.

The flames even crossed the Ebre River, prompting the evacuation of residents from several towns and isolated homes.

Images circulating on social media show the fire reaching the town of Xerta, where a petrol station was destroyed by the blaze.

Despite the fire’s intensity, there were no serious injuries. Emergency services attended to five people, including one firefighter who suffered heatstroke. The remaining cases were minor and not considered severe.

A key factor in preventing further harm was the stay-at-home order issued earlier in the day, which residents fully complied with. Although the confinement was eased at 7 pm, allowing people to leave their homes but not their towns, it was reinstated at 11 pm as conditions deteriorated.

Flames at the door

It was a long, worrisome night for residents of the confined towns as they watched the fire draw dangerously close.

The town woke to streets covered in ashes, and some neighbors were seen cleaning the entrances of their homes.

"I'm 80 years old, and I’ve never seen a fire like this,” said Àngel Verge, a resident of Aldover, where the flames reached the town’s entrance.

Another neighbor, Pilar Bonavila, explained she spent the night "with my backpack ready" and still keeps it packed in case of evacuation.

Emergency services maintained a constant presence throughout the night. "Mossos d'Esquadra police kept coming by regularly, alerting us and reassuring us. They told us not to worry and said they would come to get us if anything happened,” Pilar said.

Winds threaten Paüls

Paüls, one of the hardest-hit towns, also woke up covered in ashes and with empty streets due to the confinement.

Although the difficult night passed without major incidents, the worry remains.

“If firefighters don’t control the fire, we could face very complicated situations here this afternoon,” said Enric Adell, the town’s mayor.

The entire town is anxiously awaiting the fire’s evolution, as the predicted wind change could push the flames toward Paüls.

“If the wind shifts, the forest mass behind us, unaffected by the current fire, would be at risk. That would mean facing a completely different, much larger fire that would be impossible to control,” he explained.

Conditions in the town are far from ideal: there is no phone service, the shop and the bar are closed, and bread deliveries have not arrived.

With communication difficult among residents, the mayor said officials are going door to door and using loudspeakers from the town hall to keep people informed.

President and PM guarantee support

Catalan president Salvador Illa and Spanish PM Pedro Sánchez expressed solidarity with those affected by the wildfires and assured their full support.

Illa stated that the government will stand "side by side" with the mayors of the affected towns, providing "support measures."

"The sole and exclusive priority is to stabilize the fire," Illa said from the operations center in Tortosa.

He also pledged that the government will assist the affected towns in whatever they need but requested patience until the fire is under control before delivering aid.

Illa described the wildfire forecast as "positive" and said it is "highly probable" that the fire will not reach the natural park, thanks to a shift in the wind.

"The situation will largely depend on the wind and weather, but the firefighters’ plan is solid and based on a clear strategy," he added.

Meanwhile, PM Sánchez extended his solidarity to those affected and urged "great caution" and to “follow all instructions.”

Sánchez also praised the work of the Spanish military deployed to assist in the area.

Terrain poses major obstacle

Extinguishing the fire has become extremely difficult due to strong winds and, especially, the region’s rugged terrain.

"The fire is advancing faster than we are," said Joan Rovira, head of intervention for the Catalan firefighters.

The affected forested area is full of ravines and valleys, making access very challenging.

There are no roads or trails in some parts, which can only be reached on foot and trucks cannot get through.

“The region’s rugged terrain is making our work very difficult, with some areas completely inaccessible,” Rovira explained.

Because of this, aerial firefighting units have become crucial, although the wind also complicates their efforts.

The main challenge is that both flanks of the fire are difficult to contain and continue to spread.

In the early stages of the fire on Monday, Rovira also noted that the blaze was so intense it generated a pyrocumulus cloud several kilometers high.

In fact, the fire was visible from many parts of southern Catalonia, with the 112 emergency services hotline receiving at least 185 calls related to the incident minutes after it started. 

Worst fire year in last 12 years

This wildfire season is already Catalonia's most devastating in the past 12 years.

According to provisional data from forest rangers analyzed by Catalan News, 9,430 hectares have burned so far in 2025.

This marks the highest figure since 2012, when wildfires scorched 15,000 hectares.

It's important to also consider the potential fires that may occur in the coming months, as the fire season has only just begun.

After a long heatwave in June, which brought unprecedented temperatures, this week most of Catalonia has seen temperatures return to normal for this time of year, along with abundant rainfall, especially in the Pyrenees, Girona and central Catalonia.

In fact, one of the few areas where temperatures remain high is the Ebre region in the south, where the current fire is burning. This and other nearby areas remain on high wildfire alert.

To learn more about Catalonia’s wildfire strategy, the history of its firefighters, and how they prepare to tackle fires, listen to the podcast below.