The president of the Generalitat, Salvador Illa, warned this Saturday that the fire that originated on Friday in La Bisbal d’Empordà, in Girona, remains “worrying” due to its size, its potential for growth, and its proximity to inhabited areas and protected natural spaces.
As explained from the Command Center, the fire has already burned about 2,400 hectares of forest land and has an estimated potential of 7,000 hectares. Illa added that, “in the worst-case scenario”, the fire could affect the entire protected natural space of Les Gavarres, an area of about 30,000 hectares which has been preemptively closed.
The priority for the day is to stabilize the right flank of the fire, although the operation also maintains attention on the left flank, which has been the one causing the most problems during the night because it affects more inhabited areas and urbanizations.
440 firefighters and support from the UME
About 440 members of the Bombers de la Generalitat are working on extinction efforts, a figure that Illa compared to “the number of firefighters on duty in Catalonia on a normal day”. Around 100 members of the Military Emergencies Unit, the UME, have joined them to reinforce the operation.
The fire remains active and requires a large operational presence on the ground. The combination of wind, forest mass, and proximity to urbanizations makes the evolution of the next few hours decisive to prevent the fire from expanding its perimeter.
Illa insisted that the immediate objective is to contain the advance and reduce the risk to the population, especially in the areas closest to the urbanizations of Calonge and other surrounding points.
Bombers stabilize 70% of the right flank
The Bombers de la Generalitat managed to stabilize 70% of the right flank of the fire during the early hours of Saturday, according to the head of the corps, David Borrell. This sector is one of the key points of the operation, and firefighters are working to try to close it before the weather conditions change.
Borrell explained that until the sea breeze wind arrives, expected around midday, the teams have a window of opportunity to advance in controlling that flank. The change in wind could alter the fire's behavior and force a reassessment of the strategy in the afternoon.
Although the work is advancing “well”, the head of the Bombers has warned that there is still a lot to do. During the night, about 100 hectares have burned, within the wide perimeter on which the emergency services are working.
Confinements in force until further evaluation
The confinement orders remain in force until the situation can be reevaluated during the afternoon, once the effect of the wind change is checked. Emergency services insist that the population must follow official instructions and avoid unnecessary travel.
The preventive closure of Les Gavarres seeks to reduce risks in a particularly sensitive natural area and avoid the presence of people in areas that could be affected if the fire evolves unfavorably.
The Generalitat maintains caution despite advances on the right flank. The fire remains active and the potential for growth forces us not to consider the emergency stabilized.
Impacts on urbanizations in Calonge
In the last few hours, the fire has reached different urbanizations in the Calonge area, especially Les Cabanyes. There, damage has been recorded in gardening elements, exterior carpentry, and windows, in addition to one house that has been burned.
The left flank is the one that has caused the most complications during the night due to its impact on inhabited areas. The proximity of the fire to urbanizations forces us to maintain vigilance and prioritize the protection of neighbors, homes, and infrastructure.
Emergency teams continue to assess material damage while the extinction device works to prevent further advances towards residential areas.
A key day to contain the fire
The evolution of the fire in La Bisbal d’Empordà will largely depend on the meteorological conditions this Saturday. The arrival of the sea breeze may change the direction and intensity of the fire, so the afternoon will be key to deciding whether to maintain, modify, or lift some of the preventive measures.
The provisional balance is already significant: **2,400 hectares burned**, a potential of **7,000**, and the risk of impact on a protected natural area of **30,000 hectares**. The Generalitat and the Bombers face a decisive day to close the most delicate flanks and prevent the fire from becoming an even greater emergency in Baix Empordà.