Authorities in Vallès Occidental have ordered several urbanizations and scattered settlements to confine residents after a wildfire broke out in Sentmenat early this afternoon. The measure affects thousands of people, as flames advance rapidly toward inhabited areas. Protecció Civil activated the ES-Alert system and told residents to stay indoors.
The confinement order covers the Urbanización El Farell, Can Gurri, Sant Sebastià de Montmajor, Balcó de Sant Llorenç, Can Vinyals, Sant Feliu del Racó, home to around 1,300 people, and the northern part of Castellar del Vallès, where approximately 25,000 residents live. These areas sit along the southern foothills of the Sant Llorenç del Munt range, where forested terrain meets urban development.
Residents have been told to stay indoors with doors and windows closed, and to follow emergency-service instructions. Firefighters say the blaze is burning intensely and has produced several secondary hotspots, making it harder to contain. The fire began in the northern section of the Mas d'en Cisa industrial area, spread to a nearby crop field, then climbed the southern slope of a hill and consumed forest vegetation along its path.
Agentes Rurales estimate that roughly 10 hectares, mostly forested land, have been affected. The fire was first reported at 14:21. Since then, more than 100 firefighters have been deployed, supported by 50 ground units, five helicopters and six water-dropping planes. Emergency teams are concentrating on the left flank, considered the most dangerous because it lies close to residential neighborhoods in Vallès.
The fire comes during an exceptionally severe wildfire season in Catalonia. Seasonal figures reported by L’Indépendant recorded 36 days of extreme forest-fire risk in 2026, compared with seven during the same period in 2025 and five in 2024. From June through September, firefighters attended 450 fires that burned a total of 4,833 hectares. Eight out of every 10 fires affected less than one hectare, while larger incidents accounted for a disproportionate share of the damage. The Sentmenat fire’s estimated footprint, roughly 10 hectares, is small by comparison, but its proximity to homes has made confinement a basic safety measure.
The season’s largest reported fire burned approximately 2,000 hectares near La Bisbal d’Empordà on 3 July. That blaze also led to lockdowns and difficult firefighting conditions, as described in this report on previous wildfire lockdowns in Catalonia. The La Bisbal fire and the Sentmenat incident show how wildfire danger has affected different parts of Catalonia during the same high-risk season.
ES-Alert is now a regular way to communicate urgent public-safety instructions, including orders to stay indoors during fires. An analysis by Newtral counted 587 activations across Spain from the system’s introduction in 2023 through 19 October 2026; 276, or 47%, were linked to fires. Catalonia recorded 221 activations, the highest total among Spain’s autonomous communities. June, July and August averaged 2.5 activations a day, with forest fires driving the sharpest peaks.
Wildfires remain a persistent threat where urban areas meet forested terrain. Dry conditions and dense vegetation can speed the spread of fires, making it critical for residents to follow official instructions. Authorities continue to monitor Vallès Occidental as firefighting operations progress.
