h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Forest Fire

Posted Jul 19, 2005

A large part of Catalonia is forested, and this time of year is like a tinderbox. Although the forests are closely monitored by helicopters, police and fire crews, the risk of major conflagration is high.

We live in an urbanisation on the edge of a forest. Last Friday afternoon we were alerted by the sound of helicopters, and from the footpath close to home we looked out over the wooded landscape to see flames about a mile and a half away. There were two helicopters dropping water and we could hear the whine of sirens as firemen and police raced to the scene. The sky had turned grey from the smoke and there were ashes falling around us.

Police closed the major road which runs from Girona to Barcelona, and which is only five minutes' drive from where the fire was. The fight against the fire continued through the afternoon, and after about three hours it was finally extinguished. For us, of course, the close proximity of the fire was a little worrying.

Luckily nobody was hurt (unlike those poor 13 volunteer firefighters in Guadalajara who lost their lives at the weekend) and it's a tribute to the emergency services that they were on the scene so quickly and were able to fight the fire so effectively. I am not sure what area of forest was lost, but even the loss of one single tree is a tragedy of course.

All in all, it was a cogent reminder to everybody who lives here to be extremely careful about their cigarette ends, their barbecues and anything else which could start a fire. The forests are precious and must be preserved. And we certainly don't want more loss of life.

Last night the setting Sun was blood-red. I wonder if that was a result of smoke particles in the atmosphere from the forest fires in central and southern Spain being carried north on the wind.

This time we were lucky.

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Latest reply: Jul 19, 2005