Catalonia, Spain Faces Severe Wildfire Threat Amidst Heatwave and Drought

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In Catalonia, Spain, the stage is set for a potential wildfire crisis as scorching temperatures and an unyielding drought plague the region. Asier Larrañaga, a prominent fire analyst responsible for protecting Catalonia’s homes and landscapes, remains vigilant in the face of these hazardous conditions.

Northeast Spain, like many parts of the Mediterranean country, confronts an imminent threat of wildfires due to a deadly combination of prolonged drought, unprecedented heat, and increasingly dense forests ill-equipped to adapt to the rapidly changing climate. While recent rainfall has brought some relief, Larrañaga remains prepared for the worst-case scenario, apprehensive that July and August might follow Spain’s historical pattern of being the hottest and driest months of the year.

Larrañaga warns, “If we experience a typical summer with low humidity and high temperatures, fires will spread rapidly, surpassing our ability to extinguish them. In areas that have not received rainfall since May, we could witness such fires as early as next week.” He shared these concerns during an interview with The Big Big News in Solsona, a rural town located north of Barcelona.

Spain suffered the most significant wildfire losses among European Union countries last year, amid a record-breaking heatwave in 2022. Blazes devoured a staggering 306,000 hectares and claimed the lives of four individuals, including a firefighter. In 2023, Spain continues to lead the continent in hectares scorched, with 66,000 hectares already reduced to ashes. Consequently, firefighters across Spain, like Larrañaga, are gearing up for what could be an extremely hot summer.

These devastating fires coincide with Catalonia and large parts of southern Spain grappling with a drought that commenced last year and has only recently received some respite from rainfall. The central reservoirs supplying water to approximately six million people, including Barcelona, are still at a mere 29% of their capacity, necessitating ongoing water restrictions.

Experts unanimously agree that climate change directly contributes to the proliferation of these fires. Rising temperatures have rendered plants, accustomed to milder weather, susceptible to both pestilence and fire outbreaks. Spain, along with the Mediterranean region, is projected to warm faster than the global average. Evidence of this accelerated warming is already evident, with fire outbreaks occurring as early as March. Northern Europe also battles wildfires fueled by drought.

As a member of Catalonia’s elite wildfire fighting unit, the GRAF, 52-year-old Larrañaga embodies the front line of defense. Currently, Catalan firefighters are providing assistance in Canada as part of a Spanish contingent sent to combat the massive fires, which have emitted smoke reaching the United States and Europe.

Larrañaga’s recent visit to Solsona involved overseeing a training session conducted by the local fire brigade. The practice involved simulating a last-resort protection maneuver used when firefighters find themselves trapped amidst the flames. They clear vegetation from an area and seek refuge in their truck, equipped with sprinklers. Ideally, they hope never to utilize this maneuver.

Solsonès county, home to Solsona and its 9,000 inhabitants, typically does not witness large-scale fires thanks to storms generated by the nearby Pyrenees. However, this advantage also leads to vegetation accumulation, acting as potential “fuel” for fires ignited by lightning strikes, sparks from farm machinery, or arson. In 1998, a fire engulfed 27,000 hectares in the area. Larrañaga is now deeply concerned that the landscape is once again primed for ignition.

“The fires under these conditions can be as intense as the massive ones we are witnessing in Canada,” he cautioned. Larrañaga further expressed apprehension about a worst-case scenario involving panic-stricken individuals attempting to flee, inadvertently putting themselves in harm’s way by traversing wooded areas. This distressing prospect recalls the tragic fire disaster in neighboring Portugal in 2017, where over 60 lives were lost.

Last year, Catalonia’s firefighters faced a close call when fires erupted just as the official fire season commenced in mid-July. This near miss motivated fire chief David Borrell to extend the fire campaign to four months, starting a month earlier. This adjustment allows for additional personnel and aircraft resources for an extended period.

Borrell explained the two fundamental changes in firefighting strategies necessitated by the emergence of these more powerful fires. First, firefighters can no longer solely “attack” fires but must also wait for them to approach, if necessary, sacrificing unfavorable terrain to ensure their safety and prevent exhaustion. Borrell stated, “The second change is how we handle simultaneous fires without becoming overwhelmed. By considering everything as part of a single process, we can avoid complete collapse when confronted with multiple fires. It’s a game-changing strategy we implemented last year.”

Nonetheless, the challenge remains daunting with the arrival of summer. In addition to the highly combustible terrain, the drought poses further complications for firefighters. Several of Catalonia’s reservoirs hold insufficient water levels, rendering them unsuitable for water-dumping aircraft.

Jordi Pagès, a wildfire expert from the Barcelona-based Pau Costa Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to fire awareness, shared, “Although the rainfall in May brought some respite, the spring season was still drier than usual. Therefore, we can expect an intense summer.”

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