Extinguishing teams continue to work this Wednesday with approximately twenty ground crews and aerial resources to secure the flanks and define the fire's perimeter, which still shows active secondary hotspots. The primary concern is the potential for flames to reignite during the hottest hours, given the sensitivity of the mountain area and recent incidents.
Deputy Mayor Albert Batlle emphasized the importance of maintaining extreme vigilance in this area, which includes a zone affected by African swine fever. The firefighters from the Generalitat and Barcelona are collaborating on containment efforts and establishing defense lines.
“"There are still hours of work ahead, but we have it contained."
Despite the stabilization, the Director of Barcelona Firefighters, Sebastià Massagué, warned that active hotspots remain and urged caution due to the possibility of some areas reigniting as temperatures rise. The 35 residents who were preemptively evacuated have been able to return home, and the neighborhoods of Ciutat Meridiana and Torre Baró are no longer confined, although access to the fire zone remains prohibited.
The fire has affected some power lines and caused traffic restrictions on roads such as Horta to Cerdanyola, Cementiri de Collserola, and Alta de les Roquetes. Bus line 182 is also experiencing disruptions, while metro line L11 has resumed service at the affected stations.
The blaze, which originated on the Alta de Roquetes road, primarily burned trees and scrub. The Barcelona City Council activated the emergency phase of its Municipal Action Plan to facilitate firefighting efforts. Civil Protection sent mobile alerts to order the preventive confinement of the Ciutat Meridiana and Torre Baró neighborhoods.
The president of the Neighborhood Association of Torre Baró, Valeria Ortiz, reported that ash was falling near homes and advised residents to protect themselves from smoke and flames, close windows, and cool their surroundings. The fire was located in the area known as Les Cubetes.
This marks the second forest fire in Collserola in less than two weeks, following the blaze on Sant Pere Màrtir mountain 11 days ago, for which the Guardia Urbana arrested a suspect. The Collserola Natural Park is within an area at risk of African swine fever outbreak, necessitating biosecurity protocols and vehicle disinfection.
