The Generalitat Fire Department said on Wednesday evening that the Sentmenat forest fire in Vallès Occidental had been stabilised. Interior Minister Núria Parlon announced the change in status from the emergency command centre in Bellaterra, in Cerdanyola del Vallès.

For residents, the immediate significance is that the fire is no longer advancing freely, but stabilised does not mean extinguished. Firefighters have said they are still watching for flare-ups and reproductions, while some of the area's access and safety restrictions remain tied to operational risk on the ground.

Earlier on Wednesday, the head of the operation, Jordi Martín, said the main problem on Tuesday had been "reproductions", meaning new flare-ups inside or near the perimeter after the main front had already passed. He said crews were trying to minimise those flare-ups with "forceful" use of ground and air resources so the fire could be declared stabilised by nightfall if there were no further setbacks.

"The maximum temperature peak will be reached in these hours. Temperatures have risen sharply. In the next few hours it will be the most delicate point and we will have to stay focused," Martín said, according to EFE and remarks reported from Sentmenat.

According to EFE, the fire has affected about 159 hectares since Monday. On Wednesday the Bombers de la Generalitat, the Catalan fire service, maintained a large deployment of 384 personnel, 92 ground units and nine aircraft, plus two water-bombing planes from Spain's Ministry for Ecological Transition.

Confinement remained in place for about 300 people

Before the fire was stabilised, around 300 people were still under confinement in the residential areas of Sant Sebastià and El Farell, according to EFE. Earlier in the incident, seven residential developments had been affected by restrictions, with later reports indicating that some confinements had already been lifted while others remained in force.

On Tuesday, Bombers chief David Borrell said firefighters had carried out a "horizontal evacuation" in El Farell. In practical terms, that meant residents were moved to a safe meeting point within the same residential development rather than being taken out of the area altogether.

Borrell also said on Tuesday that the right flank of the fire had been checked, while the priority was to stop the blaze spreading towards Sant Feliu de Codines. He said flare-ups had also affected a building on the left flank.

What residents should do now

The available source material does not set out any new general instruction issued after Wednesday evening's stabilisation announcement, nor does it confirm that every remaining restriction has been lifted. That means residents in Sant Sebastià, El Farell and nearby urbanisations should follow the latest instructions from Bombers and Protecció Civil, Catalonia's civil protection service, before returning to normal outdoor activity.

  • If you were previously confined, wait for the official confirmation that your specific area has been released.
  • If emergency crews are still operating on local roads or forest tracks, avoid those access points unless authorities say they are open.
  • If you see smoke or a new flare-up near the perimeter, report it through the emergency services channel already in operation for the fire response.

Fire officials have said the difficult terrain, limited vehicle access and the condition of the vegetation made it hard to fully close the perimeter. The fire's status on Wednesday evening was stabilised, not extinguished.

Reported by Source Text Link, Nuria Santesteban, Arnau Raimundo, Europa Press, Sofía Díaz, El Debate, europapress.es, Agencia Europa Press, Clàudia Mas, Agencia EFE, La Vanguardia, Pere Roca Soler, russpain.com, catalannews.com, El Periódico Barcelona.