A wildfire in Collserola Park has scorched 45 hectares and forced evacuations. Authorities have now lifted lockdowns in Torre Baró and Ciutat Meridiana. Firefighters remain cautious due to active hotspots.
Emergency services in Barcelona have managed to stabilize the wildfire that erupted in Collserola Park, burning through 45 hectares of forest and threatening residential areas on the city’s northern edge. The fire, which broke out around 3 p.m. on Tuesday and was driven by strong winds, forced authorities to order the preventive lockdown of Torre Baró and Ciutat Meridiana, as well as the evacuation of about thirty homes on Castellví and Lliçà streets. By Wednesday morning, the lockdowns were lifted, 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, prompting Civil Protection to send two EsAlert messages to the mobile phones of 14,000 people in the affected neighborhoods. The second alert was issued after some residents failed to comply with the initial confinement order. In response to the escalating situation, 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. Their efforts were aided by a drop in temperatures and increased humidity, 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, and metro stations in the affected districts were temporarily shut down. The director of the fire service, Sebastià Massagué, emphasized that secondary outbreaks are still a concern, urging caution before declaring the incident fully under control.
Authorities highlighted the risk posed by the dense forest and the proximity of homes to the fire zone. The Rural Agents are currently investigating the cause of the blaze. The control center presented an unusual scene, with not only emergency and firefighting teams but also personnel disinfecting vehicle wheels, as mobility restrictions linked to last year’s swine fever outbreak are still in effect.
Wildfires in Spain’s Mediterranean regions have become more frequent in recent years, often exacerbated by dry conditions and strong winds. The Collserola incident follows a pattern of weather-related emergencies that have disrupted daily life in the country, such as the recent storms and temperature drops that affected the northeast and Balearic Islands, as reported in coverage of severe weather events across Spain. The ongoing investigation into the Collserola fire’s origin will be crucial for future prevention efforts, especially as climate risks continue to challenge local authorities and emergency services.
