The Direcció General dels Agents Rurals of the Generalitat de Catalunya has declared the highest level of the Tarragona, Lleida and Barcelona for Saturday, 5 September 2026, in 34 municipalities in the provinces of Pla Alfa (Level 3). The authority therefore rates the wildfire risk in the municipalities affected as extreme. The classification was published on Saturday morning and is based on the forestry and environmental protection unit’s current assessment.
The Pla Alfa is the Generalitat’s daily wildfire-risk assessment system. It ranges from level 0 to level 3; the highest level, 3, brings bans and restrictions on activities that may involve sparks or fire. Depending on local orders, these include burning garden waste, using certain agricultural and forestry machinery, and lighting fires in the open countryside. On such days, the Agents Rurals step up their inspections and may close access roads to particularly vulnerable natural areas.
According to the authority, the measure is prompted by continued dryness in vegetation, high temperatures and locally strengthening winds, which worsen conditions for fires to spread. Official communications note that the list of municipalities affected and the assigned risk levels are updated daily. In addition to the 34 municipalities at level 3, other areas have been designated as facing high risk.
Today’s classification is a preventive measure; it describes the expected risk for the day, not the outbreak of a specific major fire. The Generalitat urges people to minimise combustible material and avoid any source of ignition. Particular care is needed when using machinery outdoors and parking on dry vegetation. Breaches of official bans may be treated as regulatory offences.
The measure affects municipalities in ten counties across the three provinces of Tarragona, Lleida and Barcelona. The Agents Rurals and the relevant town halls will provide more detailed local information, such as on closures or additional restrictions. Residents in the municipalities affected should follow the Generalitat’s official channels and report any suspicious sightings of smoke or fire immediately.
Editor: Andreas M. Brucker (Article created with AI assistance).