A total of 52 ground crews and two air crews from the Generalitat Fire Brigade, along with a reinforcement of the French fire brigade, are working this Friday afternoon to put out a fire that broke out around 4:30 p.m. in the area of the Portbou, in the province of Girona.
A strong tramontana wind is blowing in this part of Alt Emportà, which can make it difficult to put out the fire.
At first, the Civil Protection of Port de la Selva has recommended that residents close windows and balconies to protect themselves from the column of smoke that comes from Portbou. However, given the unfavorable evolution of the fire, the Firefighters have ordered the confinement of the municipality of Colera, the La Rovellada area and the Sant Miquel campsite. Eight people have been evicted from different farmhouses near Portbou due to the proximity of the flames.
When the fire broke out, the fire brigade moved to the area with ten crews, but given the difficulty of putting out the fire, especially due to the wind blowing in the area, the number of troops had to be increased.
The Firefighters work from the tail of the left flank of the fire -in the direction of Colera- and from the right flank -which would advance in the direction of Cap de Creus-. According to the latest update from Agents Rurals, the fire has already burned some 150 hectares and has a potential of 700.
Regarding mobility, the N-260 road has been cut at the height of Portbou. Specifically, the cut section is between kilometers 0 and 16.5, that is, from Llançà to the border.
The 112 emergency telephone number has explained on its social networks that it has received a total of 140 calls after this vegetation fire was declared in the Portbou area.
The Department of Climate Action had already warned on Wednesday of a new situation of forest fire danger in the coastal and pre-littoral areas of Tarragona, Terres de l'Ebre and Empordà and has restricted access to the protected natural spaces of Els Ports, Cardó-Boix and Cabo de Creus.
The wind of a certain intensity and low humidity and in areas with a significant accumulated drought create favorable circumstances for rapidly evolving forest fires. The forecast is for the situation to improve in view of Sunday.
