Catalonia towns ban bonfires and tighten farm machine rules amid extreme wildfire risk

Municipalities in the Lleida region have prohibited bonfires for Saint John’s Eve because of a very high or extreme wildfire risk. Under the forest‑fire Plan Alpha (levels 3‑4), permits to light fires within 500 m of forested land are suspended. Towns such as Artesa de Segre, Sant Guim de Freixenet, Vallbona de les Monges, Pobla de Cérvoles, Juncosa, Gerb, Albi, Vilosell and Castelló de Farfanya have banned or limited fires, with some allowing only a single municipal bonfire. Protection Civil officials emphasised the need to keep fire‑generating activities away from forest zones, and the Generalitat fire service has increased its capacity by 30 % in terms of commands, ground equipment and personnel for the night of the festivities.

The council of Vistabella (province of Castellón) has issued mandatory safety measures for the use of agricultural machinery during the summer of 2026 to prevent forest fires. The rules, in force until 15 October, require operators to consult the fire‑risk level before starting work and to stop operations if temperatures exceed 30 °C, humidity falls below 30 %, wind surpasses 30 km/h or gusts reach 50 km/h. Machinery must be equipped with a 6‑kg ABC powder extinguisher, a 15‑litre water backpack and two fire blankets, and operators must follow specific procedures when smoke is detected.