On Sunday afternoon, a fire broke out in the green area surrounding Montjuïc Castle in Barcelona. According to El Pais, the blaze forced the urgent evacuation of everyone on the castle grounds and led to the suspension of the cable car connecting the mountain with the city.
The flames spread through a hard-to-reach part of the slope, complicating the firefighters’ efforts. Strong winds further worsened the situation, fanning the fire and hampering rapid containment. Although the affected area was relatively small, the risk to visitors and infrastructure was significant.
Response actions
To extinguish the fire, four fire engines from the Barcelona fire service were deployed, along with three command vehicles, an ambulance, and a special drone for monitoring the situation. Catalonia’s firefighters also joined the operation, sending a helicopter equipped with a water bucket to Montjuïc.
By the end of the day, firefighters managed to bring the situation under control and localize the fire. No casualties were reported. Authorities have not specified when the cable car service will resume or when visitors will be allowed to return to the castle grounds.
Causes and consequences
According to the municipality, the main reason for the rapid spread of the fire was the wind, which intensified on the slopes of Montjuïc that day. Despite the prompt response of emergency services, the incident highlighted the vulnerability of Barcelona’s popular tourist sites to natural hazards.
The Montjuïc fire has led to temporary restrictions on access to one of the city’s main attractions and the suspension of key tourist transport. Authorities urge caution in green areas, especially during periods of strong winds and dry weather.
