350 goats and sheep deployed for fire prevention
A herd of around 350 sheep and goats has returned to the Collserola Natural Park as part of a 'passive strategy' to prevent wildfires, an initiative led by the Àrea Metropolitana de Barcelona (AMB). The animals are grazing in designated areas within Barcelona and Montcada i Reixac to clear undergrowth, reducing fuel for potential fires. This marks the first time the service has been formally contracted, after years of informal grazing. The move was confirmed by Jaume Collboni, who serves as both mayor of Barcelona and president of the Consorci del Parc de Collserola.
185 hectares under priority protection
Since autumn, forest maintenance has focused on 312 hectares of woodland. Of these, 185 hectares have been designated as high-priority protection zones. According to Collboni, this effort has strengthened the park’s defences against fire. He highlighted that the grazing herd is one component of a broader strategy that includes creating firebreaks, building water points, improving signage, upgrading electrical infrastructure, and controlling illegal dumping.
I want to send a message of calm and confidence: we are ready for summer.
Recent fire stabilised near Sant Pere Màrtir
The call for vigilance follows a wildfire on Friday, 14 August 2026, which broke out near Carretera de les Aigües and affected the mountain of Sant Pere Màrtir. The blaze burned approximately 10 hectares of forest. Emergency services, including aerial units, responded rapidly. The fire was declared stabilised later that day. The district of Can Caralleu remained under temporary confinement as a precaution, with secondary hotspots still being monitored.
Collserola is not the back of Barcelona. Collserola is Barcelona.
In an opinion article published in El Periódico de Catalunya and cited by Europa Press, Collboni stressed the need for citizen responsibility. He noted that in 2025, forestry work covered 686 hectares, a 19% increase from the previous year, and about 110km of basic road network in mountain neighbourhoods was upgraded. He praised the swift response by Bombers de Barcelona, the Generalitat’s fire service, the Guardia Urbana, and Agents Rurals during the incident.
Call for shared responsibility
Collboni reiterated that protecting Collserola requires sustained management, resources, preventive culture, and public cooperation. Access to the Arrabassada road towards Sant Cugat remains closed as a safety measure while monitoring continues.
Reported by aldia.cat, Jordi Palmer, CatalunyaPress.cat, europapress.es, larazon.es, Tres Tristes Tigres, La Razón, Metrópoli, Jaume Collboni, Mayka Navarro, Lorraine Delorenzo, Rebeca Carranco.
