Lleida is dealing with the aftermath of a fire in Parc de la Mitjana, where 4.2 hectares of riverside woodland were burned on Monday afternoon in what authorities suspect was arson.
The fire started at three different points in the Camí de Granyena area and mainly affected riverside vegetation. Lleida City Council has closed access to the park while officials assess whether it can reopen on Tuesday morning.
According to the Generalitat Fire Service, emergency services received the alert at 3.20pm. Ten ground units and one helicopter were sent to the scene, and firefighters had the blaze under control by 5.55pm. Crews then checked the perimeter and put out remaining hot spots.
Urban Guard officers secured the area and closed park entrances. Those restrictions will stay in place until a decision is made on reopening, officials said. For more local coverage, see our news page.
Cristina Morón, Deputy Mayor and Councillor for Security, praised the quick response and said the priority was keeping people in the park safe. She said it appears to have been an intentional blaze and called on police forces to make maximum efforts to identify those responsible.
Rural Agents are leading the investigation to determine the exact cause of the fire and identify who may have set it. The City Council is expected to announce its decision on reopening after further safety checks.
