A fire is declared in Portbou and the municipality of Colera (Girona) is confined
A fire declared in the forest area near the Portbou reservoir (Girona), on the coastal border with France, currently burns ten hectares of land and forces the N-260 road to be cut, while residents are advised that they close the windows in case of inconvenience due to smoke.
The Generalitat fire brigade reports the deployment of twenty-three units since mid-afternoon, although the strong tramontana wind that is blowing, which is expected to reach 100 kilometers per hour, makes extinguishing tasks difficult, in which French media also collaborate.
According to Civil Protection, the fire was declared around 4:39 p.m. and the priority of the troops, including six air crews, is focused on the tail of the right flank to prevent the flames from spreading..
I set fire to Portbou Cholera
Images from Cap de vol (El Port de la selva)#incendie #llanca #incendi #bombers #Bomberos pic.twitter.com/pv2hwfkpl9— Tom Potter (@Tompoter) August 4, 2023
The firefighters from the Portbou Volunteer Park and the rest of the Girona volunteers who have been activated by protocol are still “unavailable” within the protest they maintain due to the conditions in which they provide service.
The municipality of Colera confined
The residents of Colera (Girona) are confined by the fire in the nearby town of Portbou, on the border with France, including the Sant Miquel campsite and the center of La Rovellada, according to Civil Protection reports.
Firefighters from the Generalitat are working with twenty-nine ground crews and four air crews at the moment, with the difficulty of the strong wind that blows in the area, but with the help of French troops.
Portbou fire seen from Colera. @meteocat @meteorac1 @324cat @elpuntavui @eltempsTV3 pic.twitter.com/4T2hz8WP00
— Xevi_veremaire #RiseUp4Rojava (@veremaire) August 4, 2023
The N-260 road is closed between kilometers 0 and 11, which is equivalent to the section that goes from Colera to the border with the neighboring country. The body of Rural Agents estimates the area burned at 6:40 p.m. in about fifty hectares, although these are provisional data..
It already affects 150 hectares
The fire in Portbou (Girona) already affects around 150 hectares, according to the latest update from Agentes Rurales. The cut of the N-260 highway between the border with France and Colera has been extended another five and a half kilometers and extends from 0 to 16.5.
Firefighters from the Generalitat, aided by the French counterpart, are currently working with 46 ground crews and two air means, which are faced with the difficulty of the strong wind that blows in the area.
Eight people evicted
Eight people have been evicted from different farmhouses near Portbou due to the fire that broke out in this town on the border with France and that has forced the population of the neighboring municipality of Colera to be confined.
According to reports from the Generalitat Fire Brigade, sixty crews are currently working on extinction tasks without the option of intervention by air means due to the strong wind blowing in the area, although conditions are being monitored to find windows that allow access by surveillance planes and attack, as well as helicopters.
The fire, with the capacity to generate secondary outbreaks, is advancing downwards pushed by the north wind and by windbreaks and, without the firefighters being able to attack it from above, it is expected to reach forest tracks.
For now, the work is concentrated on the left flank and there is the advantage that a large area of bovine pastures located strategically to the north of Colera stops the flames.
The N-260 road is cut for more than sixteen kilometers between the border and the town of Llançà to allow the mobility of emergency personnel.
Attention to the fire 🔥 that is near #Llançà in Portbou. And the north wind that blows 🌬️ hardly lets you stand! 😨
I can't even imagine how the @bomberscat work in these conditions! A lot of strength! 💪🧑 🚒
#fire #fire pic.twitter.com/tTHQ9F9BlY— Nacho Cougil 🇺🇦 🕊 (@icougil) August 4, 2023
Civil Protection keeps the Infocat plan on alert and monitors the fire in contact with the affected municipalities. It also maintains communication with the railway infrastructure manager Adif in relation to the circulation of trains through this area..