Large blaze near Girona: smoke plume as far as Perpignan, houses damaged on the Costa Brava

Girona – 04.07.2026: A wildfire that has been burning since the morning of 3 July in the area of La Bisbal d’Empordà (province of Girona) has rapidly expanded and driven a widely visible plume of smoke as far as the surroundings of Perpignan. The strong north wind Tramuntana significantly hindered the work of emergency services and repeatedly fanned embers. The fire spread to parts of the protected low mountain range Les Gavarres, where densely wooded slopes and hard-to-reach ravines further complicate firefighting.

According to regional media and the Generalitat fire service, large areas of vegetation had already burned during Friday and the night into Saturday. Estimates vary because the fire formed multiple fronts and secondary outbreaks. Authorities ordered partial evacuations and asked residents in particularly affected places to stay inside buildings and keep windows closed to protect themselves from smoke and flying embers. Several roads were temporarily closed so that fire engines and tanker trucks could pass unhindered.

On the coast the flames reached a residential development in Calonge i Sant Antoni. There, according to consistent reports, individual houses caught fire; other buildings, gardens and parked vehicles were damaged. No officially confirmed fatalities are known so far. Rescue services, however, reported isolated cases of smoke inhalation and cared for evacuees in temporary shelters. The nearby coastal strip with campsites and holiday facilities was monitored as a precaution because the wind could carry embers over larger distances.

The Catalan government activated the Alfa plan in several municipalities because of the high wildfire risk. Hundreds of personnel from the fire service, forest brigades and civil protection were mobilized, supported by water-bombing planes and helicopters that took on water from nearby reservoirs and the sea. Meteorological services warned that the combination of dryness, heat and gusts could favor new outbreaks. The population is therefore asked to strictly follow authorities’ instructions and keep access roads to fire areas clear.

Investigators initially did not provide definitive information on the cause of the fire. Early reports mention everything from technical negligence to natural triggers; conclusive findings are expected after evaluation of witness statements and burn traces. The situation remained dynamic on Saturday: operational plans, closures and evacuation orders could change at short notice. Emergency services published information continuously via their official channels and municipal warning systems.