Wildfire in inland town of Pont de Vilomara mobilizes dozens of firefighters

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Firefighters are working to put out a wildfire that broke on Sunday afternoon in Pont de Vilomara, near Manresa city in inland Catalonia. The fire has forced authorities to evacuate the River Park and Can Riera neighborhoods, due to the proximity to the fire and the smoke, as civil protection said.

118 firefighters crews, of which 17 aerial units were working on the site at 7pm. Fire is being pushed by a wind coming from the south, and originated in one of the most affected areas due to drought.

According to rural officers' data, the blaze affects around 1,000 hectares, and the municipality activated its emergency response plan and evacuated a swimming pool, so firefighters can get water. 130 hectares are part of the natural parc.

The fire could affect up to 1,500 hectares, according to authorities. As of 7pm, officials closed up C-16 road and urged neighbors in the towns of Sant Fruitós de Bages and Navarcles to confine at home due to the risk of inhaling the wildfire smoke. Meanwhile, firefighters continue to battle the fire that is getting close to residences.

Les nombroses urbanitzacions i disseminats de la zona #IFPontVilomara són de defensa prioritària #Bomberscat Al vídeo, efectius mullant algunes residències de Les Brucardes. Hi som amb 121 dotacions. pic.twitter.com/LbmCMk4t0d

— Bombers (@bomberscat) July 17, 2022

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. 

 

 

 

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Una publicación compartida de Catalan News (@catalannewsacn)

El foc del Pont de Vilomara ha saltat un barranc. Des d’@emergenciescat han demanat finalment el confinament dels veïns de les urbanitzacions de River Park i Can Riera. Els @bomberscat tenen 36 dotacions terrestres i 9 mitjans aeris sobre el foc que crema així: pic.twitter.com/nDhTIEBThK

— Anna Punsí (@punsix) July 17, 2022

Des de RiverPark.. pic.twitter.com/HeDmSyeGAi

— Bel (@BelenLarrea4) July 17, 2022

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. The executive wants to avoid wildfires due to the high risk of them starting, given the current conditions. 

Authorities have increased the Pla Alfa risk plan to level 3 in the different municipalities that are 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.