The simultaneous occurrence of three major wildfires, in addition to another fire still active in les Gavarres, has stretched the resources of the Generalitat Firefighters. Given the severity of the situation, the Government has requested the intervention of the Spanish army's Military Emergencies Unit. This day saw 65 fires registered in Catalonia, amidst a heatwave.
The main blazes are located in Anoia, Sentmenat (Vallès Occidental), and Artesa de Segre (Noguera). Only the latter is under control. The Firefighters report that the perimeter of the Sentmenat fire remains stable, with 56 ground crews and aerial support during the day. In Anoia, night operations focused on consolidating the right flank and the fire's head, with about fifty ground crews and aerial resources.
David Borrell, head of the Firefighters, expressed cautious optimism about the fires' evolution. The Minister of the Interior, Núria Parlon, urged maximum prudence, highlighting the 2,000-hectare potential spread of the Vallès Occidental fire. Borrell emphasized the priority of protecting people, preventing operational collapse, and controlling the fires' size.
The fire in Sentmenat, which started in the Mas d'en Sisa industrial estate, forced the confinement of several areas like el Farell and Sant Sebastià de Montmajor. Civil Protection activated ES-Alert messages to request population confinement. A secondary fire front moved towards el Farell, home to about 300 people in wooden houses within the forest, a situation of particular concern for the Firefighters due to protection difficulties.
Due to the Sentmenat fire, the el Pasqualet campsite was evacuated, and the sports center was set up as a shelter. According to the Rural Agents, 90 hectares have been burned, mostly forest land. The fire's origin appears to be an excavator that caught fire in an area with difficult access.
The fire in Anoia, between Carme and la Pobla de Claramunt, has affected 400 hectares. Firefighters worked to prevent the fire from crossing the C-15 and reaching the Montserrat massif. Civil Protection has lifted the confinement that affected 33,000 people, after municipalities like Santa Margarida de Montbui and Igualada had to be confined. The fire impacted several industries and buildings in Vilanova del Camí and la Pobla de Claramunt.
The fire in Artesa de Segre, at the Comiols pass, has been controlled. It started in an agricultural area and spread to forest land, affecting about 25 hectares. The Firefighters were supported by ADF and farmers' tractors.
