Firefighters brought a vegetation fire under control in Sant Jaume dels Domenys, Tarragona, on 15 June 2026, after a spark from a lorry's punctured tyre on the AP-7 motorway ignited dry cereal fields.
The blaze started shortly before 2.30pm near kilometre 207 of the AP-7, coinciding with a lorry stopping on the hard shoulder due to a flat tyre while travelling southbound. Emergency services received initial calls reporting a rapidly spreading smoke plume from a cereal field next to the motorway.
Due to the risk of the fire spreading, the Generalitat Fire Service deployed nine units, including a helicopter, to tackle the flames from both the ground and air. Although the fire's intensity was relatively low, affecting mainly dry cereal, its rapid advance caused concern because of a nearby forest.
Quick Response Prevents Forest Spread
The swift action by fire crews contained the front of the fire, preventing secondary outbreaks from reaching the forest. The blaze was controlled just over an hour after it began, according to fire officials. Crews then continued to douse the affected perimeter and eliminate any hot spots.
The flames did not enter the forest area. They did, however, reach the vicinity of a farmhouse, touching its walls without causing significant damage.
Initial investigations suggest the fire's origin is linked to the lorry's breakdown. Investigators believe that friction between the wheel rim and the asphalt after the puncture could have generated sparks, igniting the dry vegetation beside the motorway.
Traffic Measures on AP-7
The incident did not require closing the AP-7 motorway. However, speed limits were reduced to ensure the safety of emergency teams and to help remove the broken-down vehicle. Firefighters will continue to monitor the area for any rekindling.
