A 53-year-old man has been detained after a wildfire in Castellví de la Marca. Police believe his burned car sparked the blaze. The fire damaged nearly 10 hectares of protected land.
A 53-year-old man has been arrested by Mossos d’Esquadra as the suspected cause of the wildfire that broke out in Castellví de la Marca (Barcelona) on August 12. The arrest follows a joint investigation by regional police and Agentes Rurales, who traced the origin of the fire to a vehicle found completely burned near a forest track leading to the Castellot area. According to police, the car belonged to the detained man and is believed to have triggered the blaze due to serious negligence.
Officers discovered the charred vehicle in a wooded area close to where the fire started. The car’s license plate, though partially damaged, allowed authorities to identify its owner. Shortly after, police located the man walking along a nearby road. His account of the events reportedly contained inconsistencies, prompting officers to bring him in for further questioning and formal identification.
Witnesses had earlier alerted Agentes Rurales to a white vehicle seen speeding along the forest track toward Castellot just before the fire erupted. This tip became a key lead in the investigation. When agents arrived at the scene, they found the car engulfed in flames, matching the description provided by the witness. The rapid response and coordination between police and rural agents were crucial in piecing together the sequence of events.
While the man was being questioned, Agentes Rurales continued their work on the ground to determine the precise cause and origin of the wildfire. Their findings were instrumental in supporting the arrest on charges of gross negligence. The fire ultimately affected 9.46 hectares of land, much of it within the protected Montmell-Marmellar Natural Interest Area (PEIN), raising concerns about the vulnerability of Catalonia’s natural reserves to human-caused incidents.
This incident comes amid heightened attention to wildfire risks across Spain, especially after a series of severe blazes in recent years. In a related context, firefighters in Castilla y León have recently highlighted critical shortages and outdated equipment following record wildfire seasons. The Castellví de la Marca case underscores the ongoing challenges authorities face in preventing and responding to forest fires, particularly in regions with protected natural spaces.
Wildfires remain a persistent threat in Spain, with human activity—whether accidental or negligent—often cited as a leading cause. The Montmell-Marmellar area, like many protected zones in Catalonia, is subject to strict regulations aimed at minimizing fire risk. Authorities continue to urge caution and compliance with safety measures, especially during periods of high temperatures and drought. The outcome of the investigation and any subsequent legal proceedings may set important precedents for accountability in similar cases.
