Wildfire in Pont de Vilomara affects over 1,000 hectares with hundreds of residents evacuated

Firefighters deploy 121 units, 17 of which aerial in blaze that could affect up to 6,000 hectares

Firefighters trying to put out one of the blazes in the Pont de Vilomara wildfire on July 17, 2022 (by Nia Escolà)
Firefighters trying to put out one of the blazes in the Pont de Vilomara wildfire on July 17, 2022 (by Nia Escolà) / ACN

ACN | El Pont de Vilomara i Rocafort

July 17, 2022 11:43 PM

Firefighters are working to put out a wildfire that broke on Sunday afternoon in Pont de Vilomara, near Manresa city in inland Catalonia. As of 9 pm, the fire had affected over 1,230 hectares, 195 of which from the natural park, and forced around 200 residents to leave their homes. 

Some of the flames even reached the houses of the Les Brucardes neighborhood in the Sant Fruitós de Bages town and in the River Park one, in the municipality of Pont de Vilomara. Around 17 houses had been affected in some way due to the fire, as Catalan interior minister Joan Ignasi Elena, and David Borrell, head of the Bombers de la Generalitat (Catalan firefighters body) said in a press conference. 

Because the wildfire is still blazing, leaders belive that the number of affected houses "could be higher." 

Authorities have urged other 4,500 neighbors to remain confined in their houses due to the risk of inhaling the wildfire smoke or to move to the city centers.

Meanwhile, both municipalities have also been entirely confined and several roads have been blocked to traffic.

Authorities deployed 111 firefighters crews, of which 17 aerial units were working on the site at 9 pm. Fire is being pushed by a wind from the south, originating in one of the most affected areas due to drought.

At 11:30pm, firefighters had the left flank of the fire stabilized, and all deployed units were focused on the head of the wildfire with the idea of "reaching Rocafort early Monday morning," Borrell said ahead of a really difficult afternoon on the first day of the week.

Ahead of the intense heat expected for Monday, Elena has considered it "necessary" that "all available units" are focused on "only one fire," the one in the Bages county.  

So far, rural officers estimate that 95 hectares have been burned down, however, they warn that it could affect up to 6,000 hectares, due to the proximity of the Sant Llorenç del Munt i l’Obac natural park.

Evacuees moved to family homes and centers

Around 200 evacuees have been displaced and set up in three different centers, as well as in family and friends' houses. Two people have been injured, one due to a heat stroke and a professional because of a small burn. 

Currently, there are 350 firefighters working and the vast majority of aerial units in Catalonia have been deployed in the Bages county, where the wildfire is still burning. 

The fire has had an "extreme" behavior as it has moved faster than authorities are able to cope with, David Borrell, Bombers firefighters head inspector, said to media outlets.

Officials expect the "aggressive" behavior to stop once the night falls.

Catalan affection

The European emergency phone number, 112, received around 400 calls warning of the fire.

Some residents on the Barcelona coast, and southern municipalities, have reported seeing smoke from the wildfire reaching their sites. 

River Park is a neighborhood near the Sant Llorenç del Munt i l'Obac natural park with astonishing views of the mountain and the surrounding area. It is a 15-minute drive away from Manresa, one of the most important cities in inland Catalonia.

Heatwave in Catalonia

The Catalan government has banned outdoor activities, including camping and walking in natural parks, in 275 towns during the ongoing heatwave. Given the current conditions, the executive wants to avoid wildfires due to the high risk of them starting. 

Authorities have increased the Pla Alfa risk plan to level 3 in the different municipalities spread out across 20 counties. One of the other measures is also to prohibit entry to the natural parks in Catalonia.

The areas under restriction are spread out across the territory. However, some cities allowed free entry to public swimming pools between 1pm and 3pm, while others have set up refreshing areas.

In fact, on Sunday, Catalan interior minister Joan Ignasi Elena, already announced that measures in place would continue, not all of them but some. On Monday, officials will meet to decide which restrictions remain in place.

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