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Barcelona fortifies Sant Joan against extreme heat and fire risk
Barcelona will celebrate the Sant Joan eve festival on a night marked by extreme heat, fire risk and a special security, cleaning and transport operation. The celebration will once again fill beaches, squares and streets, but this year the city reaches the night of 23 to 24 June with more precautions than usual.
The heatwave and very high temperatures in Catalunya have made it necessary to reinforce prevention. The risk of fire will be one of the main focuses of attention, especially in areas near Collserola, Montjuïc and other spaces with vegetation, where carelessness involving fire or firecrackers can have serious consequences.
The Bombers de la Generalitat will increase their staff across Catalunya, while Bombers de Barcelona will focus part of its surveillance on the city’s most sensitive forest areas. The accumulation of combustible materials will also be monitored and action will be taken against possible unauthorised bonfires.
The Guardia Urbana will reinforce its presence throughout the night, paying particular attention to the seafront, neighbourhoods with the most celebrations and access points to areas with large concentrations of people. There will also be alcohol and drug checks, and mobility restrictions may be applied if crowds form.
The beaches will once again be the epicentre of the verbena. Barcelona’s coastline brings together tens of thousands of people every year, and last year it gathered around 92,000 over five kilometres of sand. The festivities may continue until the early hours of the morning, but at 6:30 the clearing of the area will begin to allow intensive cleaning before the morning swim.
The City Council will also reinforce cleaning services, one of the most sensitive points after a night with food, bottles, firecracker debris and large gatherings on the sand. The aim is for the beaches to be operational again as soon as possible during the morning of 24 June.
This year, 99 firecracker sales points have been authorised in Barcelona. The municipal recommendation is to use them cautiously, away from vegetation, façades, litter bins, containers and areas where they may cause fires or accidents. The combination of pyrotechnics, heat and wind can increase the risk within seconds.
The night will also have two Lila points on the Somorrostro beach promenade and the Bogatell beach promenade, active from 23:00 to 6:00. These spaces will serve to prevent, assist and support possible cases of sexist or LGTBIphobic violence during the celebration.
Public transport will be key to getting around without a car. The metro will operate for 43 consecutive hours, from 5:00 on 23 June until midnight on the 24th, with up to 18 additional trains during the periods of greatest demand. Line 4 will be one of the most reinforced because of its connection to the beaches.
Sant Joan will remain one of Barcelona’s most eagerly anticipated nights, but also one of the most demanding for the city. This year, the celebration comes with a clear warning: enjoying it will be compatible with celebrating carefully, travelling by public transport and avoiding any act that could turn a popular night into an emergency.