Terrassa council services, with support from the Diputació de Barcelona, conducted a full-scale operational wildfire simulation on 13 May 2026. The exercise, held between 10am and 1pm, tested the city's emergency response capabilities by simulating a fire in the Els Pinetons area, including the evacuation and care of affected residents at a mock reception centre in Can Jofresa.
The drill, organised by Terrassa's Civil Protection Service, also involved the Generalitat de Catalunya's Directorate General of Civil Protection. It reproduced an emergency in a natural environment in the city's northern zone, affecting the Els Pinetons urbanisation and isolated buildings there.
Terrassa's mayor, Jordi Ballart, directed the simulation from the Municipal Operational Coordination Centre (CECOPAL) in the Town Hall's Government Room. From this location, the overall emergency response was coordinated and monitored.
Testing Emergency Response and Coordination
Rosa Sanz, coordinator for Urban Planning, Housing, and Urban Regeneration at the Diputació de Barcelona, observed the drill from CECOPAL before visiting the Can Jofresa reception centre. Sanz stated this was the first real operational simulation on the ground, adding that the Diputació "is always at the service of local councils to support them in exercising their powers, as is the case with Civil Protection."
She explained, "We advise local councils on drafting the DUPROCIM (Single Municipal Civil Protection Document), and once it is approved, it is very important to test its implementation. That is why we conduct simulations."
Mayor Ballart highlighted the exercise's importance, saying it allowed them "to test the response capacity of the services involved and to emphasise coordination among municipal services, decision-making at the municipal level, and the application of protocols to deal with high-risk wildfire situations." Ballart noted that "wildfire risk, along with flood and wind risk, account for most activations of our emergency plans. For this reason, it is essential that we prepare adequately for these risks."
Public Safety Messages
Ruth Hibernón, Civil Protection Councillor, stressed the key message for residents during a wildfire. "Confinement is the main self-protection measure in case of a wildfire that may affect inhabited areas," she said. "In a real situation, it is recommended to stay inside homes, close doors and windows, and always follow authorities' instructions through official channels. Evacuation is only necessary when the Fire Brigade determines it."
The councillor also pointed out that in any emergency, "it is critically important to follow the instructions of the responsible authorities and to get information through official channels."
The simulation mobilised operational resources and carried out actions as if a real fire were occurring. This allowed for testing coordination among municipal services and their interaction with other security forces and participating entities at both municipal and regional levels.
Inter-municipal Cooperation
Beyond all involved municipal services, including the Forest Defence Groups (ADF) and Terrassa's Red Cross, the drill also saw participation from Generalitat de Catalunya bodies and services. These included Civil Protection, Mossos d'Esquadra, Fire Brigade, and the Catalan Red Cross, all of whom play a role in operational and strategic emergency management.
Given that the simulated scenario involved the hypothetical fire affecting neighbouring municipalities, the councils of Vacarisses and Matadepera were invited to strengthen coordination and improve joint response capacity. Representatives from Sant Cugat del Vallès and Sabadell councils also attended as observers, aiming to learn from the drill's development and apply lessons to their own municipalities.
The Diputació de Barcelona's support for Civil Protection aligns with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) number 3, "Good Health and Well-being," and number 11, "Sustainable Cities and Communities." These 17 SDGs were proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly on 25 September 2015, forming part of the global agenda for 2030. The Diputació de Barcelona is committed to these goals and supports local governments in the province accordingly.
