Wildfire reaches homes in Calonge, forcing confinement in seven Catalan municipalities

A wildfire that began in La Bisbal d'Empordà reached homes in Calonge on Saturday, burning one house and damaging others as authorities kept about 10,000 residents confined across seven municipalities in Girona province.

Later coverage said the blaze had burned roughly 2,300 to 2,400 hectares and that firefighters had stabilized about 70% of its right flank. No injuries had been reported in the latest updates.

Fire spreads through Les Gavarres

The fire started in La Bisbal d'Empordà and spread into the Les Gavarres area, a protected natural zone inland from the Costa Brava. Dry conditions and strong wind helped the flames move quickly through the terrain.

By the time of the latest reports, the blaze had crossed enough ground to reach a housing development in Calonge. One house burned, while other nearby homes were left with damage to gardens and fences.

The fire remained active as crews worked through the day, and officials continued to track whether the perimeter could be brought under control or whether the burned area would keep expanding.

Residents kept indoors

Authorities said confinement orders covered about 10,000 people across seven municipalities. The restrictions were designed to keep residents away from the fire’s path while emergency services worked in a heavily wooded area.

Some evacuees, including children from a summer camp, were moved overnight to a municipal pavilion for safety. Local councils remained involved in coordinating the response for residents affected by the restrictions.

The confinement measures reflected both the speed of the fire and the difficulty of fighting it in Les Gavarres, where access was later closed as a preventive step.

Firefighting response

Bombers de la Generalitat and other emergency crews deployed a large operation to contain the blaze. Later reports said about 440 firefighters and 100 members of the military emergency unit, the UME, were working on the fire.

Officials also ordered a total closure of access to Les Gavarres while crews were operating in the area. The restrictions were meant to keep the public away from ground that was still at risk.

By the latest reports, the right flank of the fire was about 70% stabilized, but the incident had not yet been declared fully under control.

Damage, cause and open questions

The confirmed damage included one burned house in Calonge and other homes with garden and fence damage. The full perimeter and final damage tally remained uncertain as officials continued to assess the situation.

There were also conflicting acreage estimates in the coverage, with some reports putting the burned area at about 2,300 hectares and later ones closer to 2,400 hectares. Officials had not yet given a final figure.

Media reports also said a worker had been detained in connection with the ignition after using a radial in prohibited conditions. That detail had not yet been confirmed in a final public briefing in the material reviewed.

What comes next

The main questions are whether confinement orders will be lifted in any of the seven municipalities, whether the blaze will remain stabilized overnight and how much more land it may burn before full control is reached.

Authorities are also expected to update the public on the final perimeter, the damage to homes and protected land, and any official findings on the cause of the fire.

,