Fire Outbreak and Emergency Response
Around 3:20 PM local time this Tuesday, a wildfire broke out in Collserola Natural Park (Parc Natural de la Serra de Collserola), near the Canyelles neighborhood in Barcelona’s Nou Barris district. According to the Catalan Fire Department, the fire started in a bush area above the Carretera de les Aigües.
Due to the dense smoke generated by the blaze, the 112 emergency call center received over 1,000 calls in a short period. Authorities promptly activated the Infocat plan, a special protocol for forest fires.
Civil Protection Alert and Traffic Control
To mitigate potential risks from the smoke, the Civil Protection agency used the ES-Alert system to send a warning to residents in the neighboring communities of Torre Baró and Ciutat Meridiana, advising them to take precautionary measures by sheltering in place with doors and windows closed.
To facilitate rescue operations and ensure public safety, the city’s police force, the Guàrdia Urbana, has closed several key roads, including the section from Horta to Cerdanyola, the road to Collserola Cemetery, and parts of the Carretera de les Aigües.
Coordinated Multi-Agency Firefighting Effort
Rescue teams were quickly mobilized. The Catalan Fire Department dispatched five aerial units, including one command helicopter, two water bomber aircraft, and specialists from the Forest Action Support Group (GRAF). Simultaneously, ground units from the Barcelona Fire Department (Bombers de Barcelona) rushed to the scene to join the collaborative firefighting efforts. The massive smoke plume was clearly visible from various parts of Barcelona, drawing widespread public attention.
Fire Assessment and Recent Context
Despite the fire’s dramatic appearance, the on-site fire commander’s initial assessment suggests it is less severe than another fire that occurred in the same mountain range two weeks ago. Notably, this incident comes just one week after the city council deactivated the emergency plan from the previous fire, highlighting the region’s severe and ongoing fire risk.
