High temperatures and pyrotechnics: call for caution at the gates of a scorching Sant Joan

BarcelonaThe heatwave will peak this Monday, with temperatures exceeding 40°C in several parts of the country, but it will still last until Wednesday and will be one of the main protagonists of the Sant Joan's Eve. The deputy director of Civil Protection, Imma Solé, has called for "prudence" and stressed that surveillance has been intensified to "minimize" the risk of fires, which is very high due to high temperatures, low relative humidity, and the coincidence with the festivities. For the Generalitat Firefighters, Sant Joan's Eve is the busiest night of the year, which is why the corps will increase by 30% the number of teams working during the festivities.

"We must be very careful and remember that it is not permitted to make fires or launch pyrotechnic materials within 500 meters of the forest, especially when there is a very high risk level like the one we have," Solé remarked this Monday, who also ruled out promoting "generalized" measures, such as restricting access to natural parks, even though the risk of forest fires remains high. Solé has asked that the use of firecrackers and rockets be limited to enabled and adequate spaces, and has warned that the risk is not concentrated solely in the forest environment, as fires can also originate in urban areas if any device impacts against awnings, windows, or other flammable elements.

In this regard, the Deputy Director of Civil Protection has highlighted that many town councils provide specific spaces for the safe use of pyrotechnics and has considered it advisable to concentrate this activity in determined places and times. Likewise, they have requested that anyone who detects a column of smoke or ignition should immediately call 112 so that emergency services can act as quickly as possible. Firefighter Inspector Miqui López explained that the body's main concern is the "simultaneity of services" that usually occurs during the vigil, for which reason he appealed to "citizen responsibility" to minimize incidents and facilitate the work of emergency services.

Protecting the most vulnerable

The forecast from the Meteorological Service of Catalonia (Meteocat) is that the heatwave will end on Wednesday, but temperatures will remain high until the end of the month. Specifically, the head of Meteocat's prediction area, Santi Segalà, has detailed that temperatures "will still remain above the climatic average" until the end of June and that little precipitation is expected. "We see that average temperatures are rising year after year. In Catalonia, we already have values above 2 °C on average over the last four years, therefore, climate change is evident. Heatwaves are occurring that are increasingly repetitive and frequent," lamented Segalà.

Regarding the impact of heat on health, the Medical Emergency System (SEM) has assisted 112 people between Sunday and Monday due to high temperatures. Approximately half required in-person attention from medical personnel, while the rest could be resolved by phone through 061. To combat high temperatures, experts recommend hydrating very often and avoiding going outside during the hottest hours. People with chronic illnesses, children, and the elderly suffer the most from the effects, which is why Solé has insisted on maintaining preventive measures for these groups.