Fire in Girona is being brought under control, 2.300 hectares turned to ash

The forest fire that started in the La Bisbal de l'Empordà region in the province of Girona, Spain, and turned about 2.300 hectares into ash, has been brought under control by 70% on the right flank after intense efforts that lasted throughout the night. While it was reported that a house and an old farmhouse were damaged due to the fire in a residential area near Calonge i Sant Antoni, there is no official report regarding any casualties or injuries. The fire crew announced that the fire was effective in the mountainous area of the Les Gavarres natural park and that about 500 personnel continued extinguishing work throughout the night.

Inspector David Borrell from the Catalonia Fire Brigade, providing information about the current situation and risks of the fire in a press conference, stated that almost all of the 2.300-hectare area remained within the natural park boundaries. Authorities announced that a partial curfew and accommodation ban continue in seven municipalities in the region due to the risk of the fire spreading. It was emphasized that these measures were necessary both to ensure public safety and to allow fire crews to work comfortably.

The fact that some citizens living in the Calonge region left their homes and gathered on the streets and avenues during the night hours created a concerning situation. Regarding the issue, Fire Director Borrell reiterated that while they understandfully receive the citizens' tension and justified concerns during these stressful moments, the safest place is inside their homes and being outside is risky. It was reported that crowds gathering in areas close to the scene posed a risk both for their own safety and for the work order of the teams.

Stating that the biggest risk in disasters like fires stems from the traffic experienced during evacuation and people being in open areas, the official referred to tragic events experienced in the past. Borrell recalled the forest fire disaster in Portugal a few years ago where more than 200 people lost their lives, noting that people lost their lives by being exposed to flames on the road while fleeing their homes. Based on this example, he expressed that it is of vital importance for people to stay calm and remain in their homes without panicking in order not to be stuck on the roads in case flames approach.

While approximately 500 personnel continue to support the ongoing work in the region, authorities announced that coordinated air and ground operations will continue without interruption for the complete extinguishing of the fire. Although the difficult terrain conditions in the Les Gavarres region and the weather situation make it difficult to control the fire, the fact that the right flank was largely stabilized with the intense efforts of the teams late at night is considered a positive development. It is planned that aerial surveillance aircraft and helicopters in the region will restart their air-supported interventions with the first light.