The Generalitat fire brigade have managed to stabilize this Tuesday night the fire declared in calafell (Baix Penedès, Tarragona) and have allowed the thirty people evacuated from the urbanization More Mel come back home
Until midnight, the fire had calcined 20 hectares of the mountain of l’Escarnosa, located in the town of Baix Penedès, discontinuously. The flames broke out on Canigó street and threatened two urbanizations of the municipality, Mas Mel and Bellamar.
The firefighters received the notice at 17:55 this Tuesday and they have kept some 50 ground crews and more than 70 troops in the area, including members of the Grup Operatiu de Suport (GROS) and the Grup d’Actuacions Forestals (GRAF). Civil Protection maintains the INFOCAT plan activatedthe plan special emergency due to forest fires in Catalonia.
ANDhe fire has easily created secondary foci and has continued in a southeasterly direction blown by the mistral wind, present in the area throughout the day. The flames have affected some fences and gardens, but have not caused damage to homes.
The Firefighters have continued working during the night to extinguish the left flank and avoid more secondary outbreaks that could be strengthened by the wind, the main concern of the firefighting teams.
Initially, the Fire Inspector has indicated that to the main firewhich has impacted on urbanizations, between 5 and 10 hectares would have to be added more than another tongue of fire full of secondary sources, which is what they will try to control and extinguish on Tuesday night. The potential of the fire is about 70 hectares, a figure that is not the body’s main concern.
“One Long Night”
The chief of support for the Bombers, Inspector Miquel López, declared on Tuesday afternoon that he was waiting for them a “long and intense night” working to extinguish the fire.
The mayor of the municipality, Ramon Ferré, explained in statements to the press that the inhabited area at all times has been the priority of the Firemen. López has warned that they are working on a “complicated fire that is evolving favorably”, but that it is still “much work remains to be done“.
Two technicians from the Tarragona Civil Protection territorial operation and a technician from the central services have gone to the scene of the fire to help with fire logistics and to assist, if necessary, the affected population. The Red Cross is also in the area with the Mobile Operations Center, together with various units of Mossos d’Esquadra, Rural Agents, Calafell Local Police and three SEM ambulances. Likewise, the municipal sports pavilion has been set up to accommodate those affected who need it.
Third fire of the day
Related news
This Calafell fire is the third to be declared in Tarragona this Tuesday, adding to that of perello (Baix Ebre) that has burned 0.5 hectares, and the one from Selva del Camp (Baix Camp) that has burned more than 19 hectares.
Catalonia maintains the Pla Alfa due to risk of forest fire in a large part of Catalonia, where only the regions of Pla d’Urgell, Pallars Sobirà, Alta Ribagorça and Vall d’Aran have no restrictions. The south and interior of Catalonia is at level 2 (high/very high), where it is prohibited or there are restrictions for certain activities likely to cause forest fires such as lighting a fire, carrying out sports activities, forestry, agricultural work and the use of barbecues in existing areas. Likewise, access to the mountains can also be restricted.