Firefighters in Cervià de les Garrigues, Lleida, stabilised a wildfire on Sunday evening, 14 June 2026, after it consumed 46 hectares of forest and agricultural land. The blaze led to the confinement of 144 residents and the evacuation of eight people from the Partida de la Devesa area.
Emergency services received the alert at 14:47, with strong southerly winds fuelling the fire. Civil Protection issued an Es-Alert message around 5pm, instructing residents to close doors and windows and remain indoors. The confinement order was lifted by 8pm, according to officials.
Rural Agents believe the fire started due to mechanical work involving an angle grinder. The incident mobilised 141 firefighters and 45 units, including ground vehicles and aerial resources. Mossos d'Esquadra closed the LP-7032 road between L'Albi and Cervià, and the LV-7031 between Cervià and Les Borges Blanques.
Firefighters Tackle Multiple Blazes
Sub-inspector Martí Rosell, the fire intervention chief, explained that crews would maintain a presence overnight to monitor hot spots and prevent reignition. Once the Cervià de les Garrigues fire was stabilised around 7pm, resources were redirected to another significant wildfire in Ponts, which had started at 17:48.
The Ponts fire, which affected approximately 6.5 hectares, crowned the Sant Pere de Ponts ridge. Its cause is under investigation by Rural Agents. Traffic authorities closed the C-14 road between kilometres 112 and 124, from Vilanova de l'Aguda to Ponts, though circulation was normalised by 21:15.
Fifty firefighting units were deployed to Ponts, and the fire was declared stabilised around 8pm. Firefighters continued working through the night with about 30 units to review the perimeter and cool hot spots, aiming to contain any potential flare-ups.
High Fire Risk Across Catalonia
Firefighters also responded to smaller incidents in Cabanabona, Sant Guim de la Plana, Camí de Rufea in Lleida, and Torres de Segre. Temperatures reached highs of 37 degrees Celsius in Vilanova de Segrià on Sunday, according to Meteocat. Other areas experienced similar heat, with Albesa recording 36.7 degrees, Lleida city 36.6 degrees, and Vallfogona de Balaguer and El Poal both reaching 36.5 degrees.
Rosell warned that the current risk is high due to the harvesting season, which will soon shift to forest areas. He noted that the forest mass is already showing signs of stress from the high temperatures, making it more susceptible to fires. Twenty-nine municipalities face a high risk of fire today.
