Summer usually brings with it the chirping of cicadas and the cool refuge of the forests, but these days the atmosphere in Catalonia feels different. After consecutive days of wildfires, soaring temperatures, and extreme drought, nature has been left at its most vulnerable, forcing authorities to take decisive measures to protect the region from the flames.
As of midnight last night, the Agents Rurals have ordered the total closure of six key natural areas to prevent any spark from triggering a tragedy. The measure is part of the activation of Level 4 of the Alfa Plan, a maximum alert that directly affects 111 municipalities spread across 18 regions, ahead of a week in which forecast maps indicate a particularly critical day on the calendar.
The six areas closed due to fire risk
The access restrictions aim to immediately shield the areas where vegetation has been most severely affected by the lack of moisture. The areas that have been closed to the public are Les Gavarres, Montsec d’Ares, Montsec de Rúbies, Ribera Salada, and Baronia de Rialb. The Montserrat massif has also been added to this list of restricted areas, although authorities have clarified that visitors will still be able to access the grounds of its historic monastery.
The current situation in Catalonia is extremely precarious. The heat that has built up over the last few days, combined with humidity levels at record lows, created the perfect conditions yesterday for a critical day, during which as many as 65 simultaneous fires were recorded throughout Catalonia. Experts warn that this dangerous episode is not over; in fact, next Friday is expected to be the most dangerous day of the entire heat wave.
Control of active fire sites
Last night, the fire department’s main efforts were focused on two fires that caused great concern: the one in Sentmenat and the one in La Pobla de Claramunt. These fires forced the issuance of a preventive stay-at-home order for some 40,000 people. Fortunately, emergency crews are already making progress in bringing both fires under control.
Given this situation, Civil Protection is keeping the Infocat plan active in its emergency phase, while forestry authorities are emphasizing a crucial message for all citizens: take the utmost precautions and avoid any risky behavior in the natural environment.
