The Firefighters declare the intentional fire in Tiana under control
The Mossos have arrested a presumed arsonist and the confinement order has already been lifted, as extinction tasks are progressing favorably
BarcelonaA column of smoke visible from many points in Barcelonès has set off the alarms of the Bombers de la Generalitat, who upon arriving at the initial point of the fire, between Tiana and Montgat, saw that there were three fires lit at the same time. It was 10:45 AM this Friday, and this already made the officers suspect that it could be intentional, as they also saw how the fire ascended at great speed along the ridge. Some witnesses quickly located a man suspected of having started them; a presumed arsonist whom the Mossos d'Esquadra have arrested on the same mountain. But there was still a lot of work to be done, especially with a fire that was close to the metropolitan area. Around 4:30 PM, the Minister of the Interior, Núria Parlon, announced that the fire had already been stabilized. After 5 PM, the Bombers announced that it was already under control.
The firefighters have spread out over an area of about sixty hectares – about forty are burning, however, according to data from Rural Agents – and have begun to attack the fire with about thirty ground crews and ten aerial units. The fire has crested a hill, which has worried the emergency teams, but fortunately it has not descended down the opposite ridge. It was the first moment of optimism for the corps.
Nevertheless, restrictive measures were necessary, such as the confinement of four municipalities: Sant Fost de Campsentelles, Martorelles, Santa Maria de Martorelles, and Tiana. Also the Colònia Bosc urbanization and the La Conreria hostel. Around 2 p.m., the firefighters decided to lift the confinement order for the four municipalities, but maintained the confinement of the two urbanizations.
This means that the extinction tasks are improving. In fact, the emergency corps stabilized the fire early in the afternoon. The head of intervention for the Firefighters, Pep Colàs, explained that "the situation is clearly improving right now," and indicated that they have no record of any person or home being affected. There was one missing person who was in the area, but they have finally found them. The head of the operation indicated that the sea breeze pushed the fire to the right, but a very large vineyard has significantly slowed the intensity of the fire. Parlon also emphasized the importance of these vineyards in slowing the fire.
At this moment, a small active part remains on the left flank, in the second third, where helicopters are making water drops to reduce the intensity of the fire. The President of the Generalitat, Salvador Illa, and the Minister of the Interior, Núria Parlon, have supported the emergency device and have asked citizens to follow their instructions.
Simultaneous fire in Tàrrega
Another fire has complicated the day for the Firefighters. In this case, also this Friday morning, a fire of agricultural vegetation has broken out in the town of Santa Maria de Montmagastrell, in Tàrrega. Unharvested crop fields and stubble are burning intensely. Fortunately, the Firefighters report that the discharges from the aerial means have been very effective and they are already returning to their bases.
The corps maintains about twenty ground crews to anchor the fire and is working in an area of approximately 41 hectares. This fire also forced the confinement of the town of Santa Maria de Montmagastrell; a measure that was also lifted in the early afternoon.
