Wildfire breaks out in northern Costa Brava's Cap de Creus nature park

Updated February 22, 1.37pm CEST

Firefighters continue to battle a 400-hectare blaze, most of which is in the northern Costa Brava's Cap de Creus nature park in Roses, but believe it will be able to be brought under control on Tuesday.

In an update at around midday, authorities revised the extent of the affected area down from 500 hectares. They also gave the first indication of the cause of the blaze, believing it spread from the deliberate burning of vegetation, which was not extinguished properly.

Head ranger in the Alt Empordà area, Xavi Rodríguez, explained that the flames started in the Mas Oliva area and that they are investigating whether whoever started the fire had notified the authorities, as is required, and whether it was started after 10am [on Monday], which is prohibited. "Even if some small embers were left burning, the wind could have reignited it," Rodriguez said.

Part of the rear and right flank of the fire that broke out late Monday evening and has already reached the sea have been contained despite the strong Tramuntana winds in the area. 

An air tanker and two helicopters have been dispatched to assist the 40 firefighters on the ground.

"The fire spread very quickly," Santi Lleonart, the head firefighter, explained. "We need to see if we can stabilize the left flank safely. This would help us reduce the potential number of affected hectares."

"Today will be very difficult and we have to see how things will evolve," Lleonart said. 

Roses mayor Joan Plana said he was "somewhat optimistic" on Tuesday morning as it was not as windy as it had been throughout the night, but warned residents not to get close to the fire as it was "not yet under control."

According to Plana, the fire is a result of climate change: "This is further evidence we need to take this seriously."

This comes only months after another large wildfire, thought to have been caused by a cigarette butt, broke out in the drought-affected area.