Firefighters stabilize wildfire in Calafell after forcing residents to evacuate

Firefighters stabilized a wildfire in the southern town of Calafell on Wednesday at 5:43 am, as was announced by the Bombers de la Generalitat firefighters.

The blaze affected the mountain of Escarnosa, as well as the residential areas of Mas Mel and Bellamar, and a total of 24 hectares.

Around 30 residents were forced to evacuate on Tuesday night, but were allowed to return past midnight. Neighbors from Bellamar and Bellamel also left with their cars as several streets had to be vacated. 

On Tuesday night, up to 48 different units worked to control the flames after the fire broke out around 6 pm. Among these teams, there were 70 individuals, including specialized forces in wildfires and the support team.

Some fences and gardens in the Mas Mel and Bellamar residential areas burned down. But no houses were affected by the flames.

On Wednesday morning, some residents walked around the burned area after "crossing our fingers so the fire wouldn't get in our house," Eva, one of the neighbors, said to the Catalan News Agency (ACN). Flames were at the top of the mountain, but "sparks moved quickly, starting new fires," she added.

While authorities decided to evacuate around 30 people, some people voluntarily left their homes.

"Nature is everything," Josep said. He received an alert on his mobile phone and started watering all the garden and wood elements outdoors "just to avoid any wind change made any spark burn down the house." 

He switched off the electricity and moved two butane canisters before leaving and returning after midnight.

Eva also watered the garden as "the feeling was that the house could burn down at any moment." She also added wet towels on the floor to prevent smoke from entering the doors' lower gaps.

Fire in Selva del Camp

Firefighters were busy on Tuesday after fighting another wildfire in the southern area of Selva del Camp, which started around 2:30 am. 

Rural agents believe the flames started after someone did not correctly extinguish a vegetation fire.

They believe around 49 hectares were affected after it was stabilized around 12 pm on Tuesday.