Fire service declares Lladurs wildfire stabilized

The Catalan fire service has declared that the forest fire in Lladurs, Solsonès has stabilized.

Confirmation that the blaze was on under control eventually came on Saturday morning, several hours later than anticipated.

Firefighters' main efforts are now focused on the fire in Artesa de Segre, which first broke out on Wednesday and has affected, as of 4pm on Saturday, about 2,000 hectares.

Some seventy crews including aerial support continue to tackle that blaze in western Catalonia.

Nearby wildfires in Altés, Castellar de la Ribera, Peramola and Cabó have also stabilized, as well as the fire in Corbera d'Ebre in southern Catalonia.

As for the other three wildfires in the Solsonès area, the fire in Ogern was brought under control on Friday evening, the one in Altés has also stabilized after burning 15 hectares, as has the one in Siuró. It burned 350 hectares and is expected to remain under control throughout Saturday.

Artesa de Segre

Authorities had expected Friday to be the most "complicated" day of the week, with the ongoing heatwave peaking at highs of almost 44ºC.

Saturday's temperatures are not expected to be quite as high, but wind could cause problems.

The focus on Saturday is on extinguishing the fire in Baldomar, Artesa de Segre, by mitigating the effects of the south wind forecast for early afternoon.

The fire brigade is not expecting to be able to stabilize the fire on Saturday, head of support Miquel López explained. Instead, they are working to try to keep the area burned from increasing.

Of the 70 crews working to contain the blaze, 13 are airborne, with ten of those pouring water and three being used for to coordinate the efforts on the ground.

Firefighters are attempting to "tighten as much as possible" the active blaze near the hermitage of Sant Mamet, while another area of concern is the two kilometers of discontinuous forest with no fields between the Meià valley and the town of Fontllonga, in Camarasa, Noguera county.

Lack of firefighters

Interior minister Joan Ignasi Elena admitted on Friday that Catalonia is lacking firefighters and that more are being hired.

Talking to Catalunya Ràdio, he said his office had to "prioritize" some wildfires over others, and that he understands the complaints from some towns such as Castellar de la Ribera. Yet, he added that after talking to mayors involved, they understood the situation.

According to Elena, it is the first time in several years that so many wildfires have coincided in the same week, with some aerial firefighting units having to be deployed far from their base.

"Aerial firefighting units have been deployed to where they were deemed the most necessary," Bernat Solé, the Catalan government delegate in Lleida, told media.