Firefighters announced on Wednesday that the blaze in Collserola natural park, north of Barcelona, is stabilized, although active hotspots remain along the perimeter. The fire has burned approximately 45 hectares of forest.
On Tuesday, residents noticed a strong smell of smoke due to the fire, which started around 3 PM and was fanned by the wind. This led to the precautionary confinement of the Torre Baró and Ciutat Meridiana neighborhoods, and even the evacuation of about thirty homes. Deputy Mayor Albert Batlle confirmed that these confinements have now been lifted.
Seventy ground and air personnel participated in the firefighting efforts. The fire also caused the closure of three roads: the cemetery road, the Alta de Roquetes road, and the one connecting Horta with Cerdanyola. Additionally, the metro stations in the two affected neighborhoods had to be shut down.
The drop in temperatures overnight and increased humidity were key factors in controlling the fire, despite the wind picking up again at dawn. Rural Agents are investigating the causes of the blaze.
According to an update from the Rural Agents, the fire originated in the municipality of Barcelona, affecting around 34 hectares, and spread towards Montcada i Reixac (Vallès Occidental), with an additional 1 hectare burned.
The fire's proximity to the dense forest of the mountain range and inhabited areas is a cause for concern. Civil Protection sent EsAlert messages to the mobile phones of 14,000 residents in Torre Baró and Ciutat Meridiana, asking them to stay indoors due to the fire and smoke. The Barcelona City Council activated the Municipal Action Plan in its Emergency phase.
In the context of the fire, an unusual measure was observed: the disinfection of vehicle tires due to ongoing mobility restrictions related to the swine fever outbreak declared last November.
