News
The La Bisbal fire remains under surveillance because of heat and wind
The La Bisbal d’Empordà fire remains stabilised but is not yet considered under control. Intense heat and sea breeze keep emergency teams alert as they monitor a very wide perimeter in Les Gavarres to avoid further flare-ups.
The situation is directly affecting Baix Empordà, but it is also being followed with concern from Barcelona and the rest of Catalonia. In the middle of a heatwave, any change in wind can complicate a fire that has already left homes destroyed, caused material damage and created several days of tension in municipalities near the Costa Brava.
The Bombers de la Generalitat have 184 personnel, 40 ground units and two aerial resources deployed. The priority is to control hotspots within a perimeter of around 40 kilometres, where columns of smoke or small outbreaks may still appear if temperatures rise.
During the early hours, a flare-up was detected in the Mas Ambrós area, in Calonge, which could be extinguished quickly. These kinds of episodes explain why the teams do not want to rush: the fire is no longer advancing as it did at first, but the terrain remains delicate.
The right flank, towards the interior of Les Gavarres and in the direction of Girona, is the point of greatest concern. The vegetation, the terrain and the tongues of fire remaining inside the perimeter make it necessary to maintain constant monitoring from the ground and the air.
The provisional toll shows the severity of the fire. Eleven homes have been completely destroyed and another fourteen have suffered partial damage in municipalities such as Cruïlles, Monells i Sant Sadurní de l’Heura, La Bisbal, Calonge and Santa Cristina d’Aro. The Sistema d’Emergències Mèdiques has attended to fourteen people since the start of the fire.
The decision on whether the fire can be declared under control will depend on how the perimeter and hotspots hold up during the hottest hours. Until then, the watchword remains caution, especially in forest areas and housing developments close to the massif.
The day leaves a clear warning for the Catalan summer: when extreme heat combines with wind and dry vegetation, the impact is not limited to the countryside. It affects homes, roads, family routines, tourism and safety across entire counties that live very close to the forest.