Local leaders in Empordà (Girona) have voiced frustration after large numbers of people traveled to the region this weekend, brushing aside repeated safety warnings as a major wildfire burned in the Les Gavarres massif. The fire has consumed 2,300 hectares and forced 12,000 residents to shelter in place, prompting authorities to urge the public to avoid the area. Despite appeals by the Govern, with Civil Protection and Fire Services also urging people to stay away, traffic surged as if it were a typical July weekend.
Jordi Soler, mayor of Calonge, called the situation chaotic. Roads were completely congested, he said, and should have remained clear for emergency operations. Josep Xifré, mayor of Santa Cristina d’Aro, was relieved the flames had not intensified but criticized visitors for ignoring official advice. Òscar Aparicio, mayor of La Bisbal de l’Empordà, blamed the heavy traffic on the fire and events such as the Cap Roig festival. He pointed to a contradiction in the authorities' approach: they urged people to stay away while major gatherings went ahead.
President Salvador Illa visited the operations center in La Bisbal early Saturday and confirmed that public events, including the Havaneres concert in Calella de Palafrugell and the Cap Roig festival, were still scheduled to proceed. He said the events were in municipalities not under confinement orders, but urged prudence and common sense when traveling. Illa also warned that plans could change quickly if the fire worsened.
Local officials have criticized the tension between public safety and the continuation of large-scale events. They argue that mixed messages undermine efforts to control movement and protect people. Packed roads also complicated emergency services' work and raised questions about the effectiveness of current communication strategies.
The fire also prompted political questions about its origin. On July 7, Junts, Vox and the CUP asked Territory Minister Sílvia Paneque for explanations, alleging that the blaze was linked to work by an employee of a company subcontracted by the Department of Territory. That allegation was a political claim, not an established finding.
The incident follows a pattern seen in earlier emergencies across the region. During an earlier wildfire near La Bisbal d'Empordà, authorities also struggled to manage public response and enforce lockdowns, as described in a recent report on the challenges faced by Catalan municipalities during wildfire crises.
By October, attention had also shifted to the forest’s recovery. At Sant Cebrià dels Alls, new green shoots appeared among holm oaks and some pines, including trees that had survived the fire. Ràdio Capital de l’Empordà reported that the field was beginning to grow back and urged visitors to help the forest recover by avoiding actions that could spark another fire.
Wildfires pose a recurring threat in Catalonia, especially during the dry summer months. The region's rugged terrain and seasonal winds can quickly turn small blazes into major incidents. In October, Protecció Civil organized a course for 30 town councils on preventing emergencies and improving coordination and communication during emergencies such as floods and fires. The course reflected a broader focus on municipal preparedness, though it was not identified as a specific response to the Gavarres fire. The incident underscores the need for clear public messaging and decisive action when travel and major events coincide with an emergency.
