On 18 August 2026, Junts del Penedès called on the Government led by President Salvador Illa to account for what it describes as inadequate firefighting cover in the Penedès vegueria, an administrative region that includes Alt Penedès, Baix Penedès, Garraf and Anoia.

The party says alleged shortages of firefighters and commanders could affect residents and summer visitors if they result in reduced shifts or temporary fire-station closures. It identifies Garraf, Foix and Anoia as areas where such disruption could have consequences during the wildfire season.

Junts has submitted written questions to the Parliament of Catalonia seeking figures for staffing and command vacancies in the Penedès vegueria, and asking what urgent measures the executive plans to take to restore normal service. The party's claims have not been confirmed by the Government in the material provided.

Pressure on coastal and woodland areas

According to Regió7's report of 18 August, Junts says the Penedès faces particular pressure in summer because the coastal population increases while vulnerable woodland areas face an elevated wildfire risk.

  • Garraf: the party cites the Massís del Garraf.
  • Foix: it identifies Parc del Foix as another high-risk area.
  • Anoia: Junts says the comarca has had the region's most serious wildfire experiences this summer.

Montse Ortiz, Junts member of the Parliament of Catalonia for Vilafranca del Penedès, said the staffing gaps had been foreseeable before the middle of summer.

“Emergencies cannot wait for a government that improvises, that always arrives late and gets it wrong. It is unacceptable to have reached the middle of summer without resolving staff shortages that were perfectly known and foreseeable.”

Questions seek staffing and closure data

The parliamentary questions ask the Government for the size of the staffing deficit, the number of vacant or uncovered command posts, and the effect that reduced shifts or temporary closures may have on emergency response.

A separate Junts parliamentary initiative reported on 13 August sought information on temporary closures of fire stations across Catalonia and asked whether closures could increase emergency response times. That report named Balaguer, Cervera, Mollerussa and Tremp among stations said to have closed on some days because of staffing shortages.

Residents seeking updates on the Government's response can follow proceedings through the Parliament of Catalonia's news service, where institutional announcements and parliamentary activity are published.

Primary sources: govern.cat. Reported by regio7.cat, infojonquera.cat, Redacció, Ismael Lobo García, viurealspirineus, premsa, turisme.calafell.cat, Parlament de Catalunya, Llaurado Lavado, Aurora, Ricard Vinyals, Departament d'Edicions del Parlament de Catalunya, Pallars Digital: el diari de les comarques pallareses, diaridetarragona.com, Regió 7.