August 26, 2026 – 10:00 a.m. Update: After a night of firefighting efforts, the fire has been deemed stable after burning approximately 35 hectares, mostly scrubland.
Late August in Barcelona is usually marked by the tranquility that precedes the return to routine, but the green belt that surrounds the city is always vulnerable to high temperatures. On Tuesday, August 25, between approximately 3:20 p.m. and 3:30 p.m., the northern slope of the Collserola mountain range was once again the scene of a wildfire, which originated specifically in an area of scrubland very close to the Canyelles neighborhood, in the Nou Barris district.
The fire, which began just above the Alta de Roquetes highway in the direction of Sant Cugat, remains active and has generated a large column of smoke that has put thousands of residents on alert. In response to the situation, Civil Protection has activated the pre-alert phase of the forest fire emergency plan (Infocat) and has quickly mobilized a large-scale emergency response to contain the spread of the flames.
A large-scale aerial response and more than a thousand calls
The visual impact of the fire was immediately felt throughout the city, causing the 112 emergency hotline to receive 1,074 reports in a short period of time. To address the emergency, a coordinated response effort has been launched, involving both ground and air operations.
On one hand, the Barcelona Fire Department has deployed eight crews to the scene. At the same time, the Generalitat’s Fire Department has sent three water tankers and specialized personnel from the GRAF (Grup de Reforç d’Actuacions Forestals). From the air, the operation is receiving critical support from five aerial assets: one helicopter and two aircraft focused on halting the fire’s advance in the hardest-to-reach areas.
The City Council has preemptively cordoned off the neighborhoods of Torre Baró and Canyelles as a safety measure in response to the fire, which is spreading through the Collserola mountain range.
Second wildfire of the summer in the city
Although the plume of smoke is very conspicuous and has been classified as “significant” by firefighters, firefighting crews estimate that this fire is not as serious as the one that occurred last week in the same mountain range.
This is the second fire to strike Collserola this summer. On August 14, a fire burned nearly 10 hectares of forest in the Sant Pere Màrtir area, forcing residents of Can Caralleu to be evacuated as a precautionary measure. Following that incident, the local police eventually arrested a suspected arsonist.
Avoid the area and follow the situation as it unfolds
Authorities are asking the public to exercise extreme caution. The main recommendation is to follow the instructions from Civil Protection and the 112 emergency line, and above all, to avoid approaching the affected area in Nou Barris so as not to obstruct the passage of emergency vehicles and to facilitate firefighting efforts.
Those who wish to stay informed about the progress of the fire can do so through the social media accounts of official agencies such as the Fire Department, Civil Protection, or the Barcelona City Council.
