The Generalitat Firefighters have declared the Les Gavarres fire, in Girona, stabilized after 36 hours of work against a blaze that has burned approximately 2,300 hectares since it started in La Bisbal d’Empordà.
Stabilization means the fire is no longer growing uncontrollably, but it does not mean it is extinguished. The Interior Ministry maintains caution and warns that it will still take days to declare it extinguished due to the irregularity of the perimeter, hot spots, and the heatwave that is beginning these days.
The fire is keeping eight municipalities under confinement at least until this Sunday, while more than 400 firefighters continue to work on the ground to secure the right flank, prevent flare-ups, and protect the Les Gavarres massif.
The Les Gavarres fire is now stabilized
The fire was stabilized on Saturday night, around 10:00 PM, as the extinguishing teams had predicted.
During the day, the firefighters' priority was to halt the fire's advance to the northwest to prevent it from entering the heart of the Les Gavarres massif, a natural area of about 30,000 hectares, with full force.
The Minister of the Interior, Núria Parlon, has asked for "great caution" and recalled that the fire is no longer growing, but that work will continue in the coming days, especially on the right flank.
What it means for a fire to be stabilized
A fire being stabilized does not mean it is extinguished.
It means that the firefighters have managed to halt its advance and that the perimeter is no longer growing freely. However, within the affected area, there may be hot spots, secondary outbreaks, burning logs, embers, and poorly burned areas that can reignite with wind or high temperatures.
This is why the Interior Ministry insists that the emergency is not over. The fire is stabilized, but there is still a long phase of control, mopping up, and surveillance.
2,300 hectares burned
The fire has burned approximately 2,300 hectares in the Les Gavarres area.
Most of the affected area is forest, although the flames have also reached areas close to urbanizations and homes.
The early morning was particularly difficult in areas of Calonge, where the flames reached some houses in urbanizations. During Saturday, the main objective was to prevent the fire from continuing to advance towards areas with greater forest continuity.
Eight municipalities remain under confinement
Although the fire is stabilized, confinements remain in eight municipalities at least until this Sunday.
Civil Protection and Firefighters ask residents to follow official instructions, not to approach forest areas, not to try to return to affected areas without authorization, and to avoid unnecessary travel.
The measure seeks to reduce risks for the population and facilitate the work of emergency teams on roads, highways, and forest access routes.
Why it will take days to extinguish it
The Ministry of the Interior warns that the fire will take days to be declared extinguished.
The main reason is the irregularity of the fire. The perimeter has not burned homogeneously: there are burnt areas, partially burnt areas, hot spots, and areas where forest fuel is still available.
Added to this is the heatwave that is starting these days in Catalonia, with high temperatures and the risk of new fires. In these conditions, any ember or poorly extinguished spot can reignite.
The heatwave complicates surveillance
The arrival of a new heat episode forces extreme vigilance.
The risk is not only in the already stabilized fire but also in the possibility of new fires in other areas of Catalonia. That is why the Government has increased restrictions in risk areas and keeps particularly vulnerable forest areas closed.
In Les Gavarres, firefighters will continue to check the perimeter, douse hot spots, and monitor for possible flare-ups in the coming days.
The right flank, the main concern
The right flank has been the main concern of the extinguishing teams.
That area could have opened the fire towards the interior of the massif and multiplied the affected surface. During Saturday, efforts were concentrated on containing that advance and preventing the fire from heading towards areas with greater potential.
Although the fire is now stabilized, that flank will continue to be intensively monitored.
How the fire started
The fire started on Friday in La Bisbal d’Empordà.
The Mossos d’Esquadra arrested a man for his alleged connection to the origin of the fire, which is being investigated for the use of an angle grinder by the roadside.
Sparks generated by this type of tool can easily ignite dry vegetation, especially on windy, hot days with a high risk of forest fires.
The Costa Brava avoids the worst-case scenario
The worst-case scenario was that the fire would advance uncontrollably towards the heart of Les Gavarres.
The massif has about 30,000 hectares and connects forest areas with municipalities, urbanizations, roads, and tourist areas of the Costa Brava.
The stabilization of the fire avoids a much more serious evolution for now, although the authorities insist that we must not let our guard down.
What residents should do
Residents of the confined areas must remain at home until further notice.
Civil Protection recommends closing doors and windows, avoiding ventilation systems that could introduce smoke, staying informed through official channels, and not traveling towards closed roads or forest areas.
Those who have second homes in the area should avoid traveling until the authorities lift the restrictions.