Emergency services in Barcelona have stabilized the wildfire that broke out in Collserola Park, burning 45 hectares of forest and threatening residential areas on the city’s northern edge. The fire started around 3 p.m. on Tuesday, driven by strong winds. Authorities ordered preventive lockdowns in Torre Baró and Ciutat Meridiana, and evacuated about thirty homes on Castellví and Lliçà streets. The lockdowns were lifted by Wednesday morning, but firefighters warned that active hotspots remain within the fire’s perimeter.
Residents across northern Barcelona reported a strong smell of smoke as the blaze spread rapidly. Civil Protection sent two EsAlert messages to the mobile phones of 14,000 people in the affected neighborhoods. The second alert went out after some residents failed to comply with the initial confinement order. As the situation escalated, the city council activated its Municipal Action Plan at the emergency phase late Tuesday.
Firefighting teams, including 70 ground and aerial personnel, worked through the night to contain the flames. Falling temperatures and increased humidity aided their efforts, although gusts of wind at dawn complicated the operation. Three local roads, the cemetery road, the upper Roquetes road, and the route connecting Horta with Cerdanyola, remained closed. Metro stations in the affected districts were also temporarily shut down. Fire service director Sebastià Massagué said secondary outbreaks remained a concern and urged caution before declaring the incident fully under control.
Authorities highlighted the risks posed by the dense forest and the proximity of homes to the fire zone. The Rural Agents are investigating the cause of the blaze. An unusual scene unfolded at the control center: alongside emergency and firefighting teams, personnel were disinfecting vehicle wheels because mobility restrictions linked to last year’s swine fever outbreak remain in effect.
Wildfires in Spain’s Mediterranean regions have become more frequent in recent years, often worsened by dry conditions and strong winds. The Collserola incident follows a pattern of weather-related emergencies that have disrupted daily life in the country, including recent storms and temperature drops that affected the northeast and Balearic Islands, as reported in coverage of severe weather events across Spain. The investigation into the Collserola fire’s origin is ongoing, with implications for future prevention efforts as climate risks continue to challenge local authorities and emergency services.
