The investigation into the wildfire affecting the Les Gavarres massif points to the "improper" use of a grinding wheel as a possible cause of the blaze. According to Jaume Bosch, regional area chief of Agents Rurals in Girona, the main hypothesis is that the grinding wheel was used without permission along the road that crosses the area.
Bosch detailed that the grinding wheel was reportedly used to cut a metal piece for the installation of road signage. The use of this tool is currently not permitted due to Level 3 of the Plan Alfa. The responsible company has already been identified by Agents Rurals and the Mossos d'Esquadra, who are collaborating in the investigation of the fire's origin.
For their part, David Borrell, chief inspector of Bombers de la Generalitat, stated that the fire already affects an area of 750 hectares. Currently, 225 firefighters are working to attack the right flank, in the Santa Cristina area, considered the most complex for firefighting efforts on Saturday with the arrival of the sea breeze.
The priority objective is to prevent the fire from affecting the total 10,000 hectares of Les Gavarres and a large part of Baix Empordà. The strategy involves having the right flank "contained" and protecting the population, with four confinement orders issued so far and support for coastal urbanizations if necessary.
Preventively, the mobilization of off-duty firefighters has been activated to cover empty stations, and reinforcements have been requested from the Military Emergencies Unit (UME) to increase reaction capacity in case of simultaneous fires. "What we don't want are two large fires," Borrell emphasized.
