Nearly 40% of Sant Cugat del Vallès is covered by forest within the Collserola Natural Park, placing several residential areas at direct risk during periods of extreme heat and drought. Neighbourhoods such as La Floresta, Les Planes and Sol i Aire lie in the urban-forest interface, where homes border dense woodland, a zone particularly vulnerable to wildfires.
"This coexistence between housing and forest mass is what worries us most," said Iñaki Ferreira, coordinator of the Forest Defence Group (ADF) Sant Cugat, noting that vegetation is severely stressed after intense summer heatwaves.
Ongoing prevention efforts
The city council maintains 180 hectares of protective firebreaks around urbanisations, 15 hectares along streams, over 110 kilometres of streets adjacent to forest, and 40 kilometres of forest tracks annually. These actions are part of the Municipal Fire Prevention Plan, active until 2030, which also includes strategic water points and improved access for emergency vehicles.
Funding for these tasks has increased by 53% compared to the previous contract, enabling annual instead of biennial maintenance. The work is coordinated with the Collserola Natural Park Consortium, the Diputació de Barcelona and the Generalitat.
Sol i Aire sets benchmark with official plan
Sol i Aire has become the first residential area in a forested zone in Catalonia to have its Self-Protection Plan (PAU) officially homologated by Protecció Civil de la Generalitat. The recognition allows integration into the Hermes emergency platform used by response teams.
We’ve worked hard to organise the most structured response possible.
Imma Oliva, secretary of the Sol i Aire Self-Protection Group, and Elena Gil-Pena, collective member, highlighted that the plan identifies evacuation routes, confinement protocols and vulnerable residents who require priority assistance.
The group runs year-round awareness campaigns, including drills during the local festival and educational activities for children. They stress that fuel reduction in forests remains critical: "The woods are saturated with combustible material. Dry trees still need to be removed."
Community action expands
In La Floresta, residents have formed a Self-Protection Group to promote awareness and push for greater institutional involvement. At Les Planes, the neighbourhood council has approved a draft emergency protocol outlining meeting points, evacuation routes and support networks, pending final approval by the municipal plenary.
Paca Romero, a resident of Les Planes for over 60 years, described the area as a 'tinderbox' but expressed hope: "We’ve been lucky so far. We must never rule anything out."
Public responsibility and response
Gemma López, head of Sustainability and Environment, reminded property owners bordering forest land of their legal duties: clearing dry vegetation, reducing flammable materials near homes, and knowing local self-protection protocols.
Toni Royo, head of Emergencies and Civil Protection, urged immediate reporting of any smoke column to 112, even if it turns out to be false: "We’d rather respond to nothing than arrive too late when the fire is still small." He warned against self-evacuation if confinement is ordered, stressing it could endanger both residents and firefighters.
"A prepared and informed public is part of the emergency response," Royo added. With half the municipality covered in forest, officials, technicians and residents agree: preventing fires remains far more effective than fighting them.
Primary sources: cugat.cat, Diputació de Barcelona, gemmalopez, govern.cat, govern.cat, patrimonicultural.diba.cat, govern.cat, govern.cat, govern.cat, premsa.santcugat.cat. Reported by totsantcugat.cat, Jordi Alemany, Redacció, contractaciopublica.cat, elcugatenc.cat, TOT Sant Cugat.
