The fire in Baix Ebre has been stabilized

BarcelonaAfter burning 3,221 hectares, mostly forest land, firefighters have managed to stabilize the entire area of theBaix Ebre fire"Intense" firefighting efforts throughout the night and into the morning have allowed water to be discharged at the two areas still burning, although the Fire Department's chief of intervention, Joan Rovira, explained that this afternoon and evening's work will be to "consolidate" this stabilization. The improved situation has allowed all municipalities except Paüls to be released from lockdown, both as a precautionary measure and because the town's road is the only high-traffic point that firefighting equipment can safely use. "We don't have the fire under control, let alone extinguished it," Rovira warned.

According to the fire department, this morning's work has been effective and has allowed them to work to consolidate the fire's perimeter. This has allowed them to stabilize 90% of the fire by morning, and, a few hours later, to stabilize the two hard-to-reach areas: one in the north of Paüls and another in the Les Portelles area, on the road leading to Prat de Compte. Rovira explained that these are two elevated areas where firefighters have difficulty reaching using water lines, and therefore, work can only be carried out using aerial vehicles and hand tools.

For this reason, the lockdown remains in effect in the municipality of Paüls, and there are road closures on two roads: the TV-3541, between Paüls and Xerta, and the N-230b, near Xerta. The measure will be gradually relaxed, allowing people who need to travel out of strict necessity or urgency to do so, Rovira indicated. In other words, the lockdown will not be lifted for the entire population so as not to hinder the work of firefighters or endanger anyone.

However, this preventive measure has already been lifted in the towns of Xerta (which had been severely affected), Alfara de Carlos, Aldover, Tivenys, Roquetes, and the Bítem, Jesús, and los Reguers neighborhoods of Tortosa. However, Rural Agents Sub-Inspector Xavier Gilabert has asked citizens to be cautious with mobility and urged them to "wait a bit until the situation improves."

Waiting for the weather

Currently, there are around 100 ground crews and 17 aircraft working intensively, especially on the left flank. State seaplanes are also focusing their water drops. On the right flank, between Paüls and Alfara de Carles (the tail end of the fire), a detachment from the Ministry for Ecological Transition's reinforcement brigades is currently working on a slope where the fire has been very active. In this area, with many cliffs and very difficult access, work is being done with hand tools. Along the remaining perimeter, which has not grown in recent hours, the firefighters will continue the soaking work, as there are already many hot spots.

Rovira explained that the weather will be key to fully stabilizing the fire. Although he stated that "at this time the forecast is positive," he emphasized that they must be aware of rain and whether the approaching storm will bring "erratic winds" that could complicate extinguishing the fire. Today, conditions will be more favorable for extinguishing the fire: humidity has risen slightly and will continue to rise throughout the day, with the maritime influence remaining with a wind that should not be surprising, although the same weather conditions could bring moderate gusts from the southeast in the afternoon.

A day with significant cloud cover is also expected, which will slow temperatures, which will remain below 30°C all day, and the possibility of showers in the area cannot be ruled out. In this regard, Rovira admitted that this is "the only factor that could generate concern" because they do not know if it will bring rain or a dry storm.

The investigation is underway

Gilabert also explained that the Rural Agents and the Mossos d'Esquadra have created an investigation group to jointly clarify the origin of the fire. Speaking to reporters, he emphasized that the investigation is "very complex," but that they have already managed to narrow down the area to between one and two hectares where the fire allegedly started.

While waiting for the investigation to provide more details, Gilabert revealed that the fire started in a forested area that is relatively easily accessible and that it would be at one end of the blaze. "Right now there is no probable cause; we will have to look at many things and rule out many others as well," he emphasized.

The 112 emergency telephone line has received a total of 608 calls about the fire until this morning, the vast majority from Baix Ebre (545) and from the municipalities of Xerta (203), Paüls (144) and Tortosa (73).

Fire in Anoia

As for the Anoia fire, which remains stabilized, humidity has been high overnight and will remain so for part of the day: light winds in the morning and a southerly breeze in the afternoon with some moderate gusts. No rain is expected, with occasional showers possible, and skies will be changeable due to cloudy periods. Nighttime temperatures have risen at both fires, but nightlife has remained very comfortable, ranging from cool to mild, far from the warm temperatures of recent days. And today's high will also be shorter, keeping the heat at bay.