Monday sees the Barcelona Fire Service activate its campaign to step up fire prevention work in the parts of the Parc de Collserola which belong to the city, a total of nearly 1,800 hectares in the districts of Les Corts, Sarrià – Sant Gervasi, Horta-Guinardó and Nou Barris. The campaign will be in place until the middle of September.
The pre-campaign began on 15 April and the Vallvidrera fire station was opened on 16 May, offering fast access to woodland areas and cutting response times. During this time, firefighters have been carrying out prevention tasks, with activity now to be ramped up as we enter the hottest months.
Fire prevention tasks conducted for the campaign will be carried out in three basic areas of coverage in the Collserola mountain range, with daily routes made:
- Vallvidrera fire station, between the area around the Forat del Vent hilltop and Carretera de Santa Creu d’Olorda.
- Vall d’Hebron and Eixample fire stations, in the areas around Carretera de les Aigües, Carretera de Vallvidrera and the neighbourhoods on the northern side of the tunnel.
- Sant Andreu fire station, in the area around Carretera Alta de les Roquetes, Torre Baró, Carretera del Cementiri and Ciutat Meridiana.
The operations will conduct two types of permanent actions:
- Reconnaissance and daily routes: reconnaissance of access points, identification of paths and checks on their condition, plus checks on water resources for firefighting.
- Preventive action, activated in accordance with the decreed pre-alert parameters for wind speeds, relative humidity and average temperature. When activated, firefighters are mobilised to conduct surveillance routes which remain ongoing for the duration of the pre-alert situation.
In addition, a drill was conducted in the woodland area at the start of May, and the City Police will be activating an operation in the woodlands in the districts involved, with preventive patrols in the mountain neighbourhoods during the day and also at night.
Door-to-door visits are also being carried out and talks organised for people living in woodland areas, the idea being for local residents to help keep these spaces clear of fire and make correct use of the local area. The talks also explain what to do if a forest fire occurs.
Something that needs to be taken into account is the increase in the number of visitors to the park in the summer, meaning the risk of fire is higher (even more so this year with the current drought). As a result, public collaboration plays a key part in achieving a summer free of fire.
During last year’s forest fire campaign there were 19 fires in the part of Collserola which belongs to the municipality of Barcelona.
How to protect ourselves against forest fires?
Most fires which start in Collserola are caused by human activity. This means involvement and our actions in woodland areas play a key part in avoiding forest fires:
- No throwing away anything which could cause a fire (cigarette butts, matches, fireworks etc.) in woodlands or nearby areas.
- From 15 March to 15 October, forestry work or any activity which could generate sparks within 500 metres of woodlands is prohibited. This includes burning waste and lighting barbecues. Barbecues can only be lit in built infrastructures, with a fireguard and three walls as far as the guard, as long as there is no express prohibition in place. Anyone lighting a barbecue must clear up the ashes properly.
- As from this year, it is also prohibited to install booths selling fireworks within 500 metres of woodlands.
- No leaving any type of rubbish in woodlands. This could lead to fire.
Check what to do in the case of a forest fire here, or how to look after the area around your home if you live near woodlands.
Remember, the most important thing to do in the case of a fire is to call 112 and provide as much information as possible. The mobile app My112, available for Android and iOS alike, also enables emergency teams to locate your call.