The Pont de Vilomara (Barcelona) wildfire was arson. The Rural Agents have no doubts and made this known to the judge in charge of the investigation from the Manresa courts. Jaume Torralba, chief Rural Agent of the Central Catalonia Regional Area, who is leading the investigation being carried out by the Rural Agents to determine how the fire that burned for three days in Bages, Pont de Vilomara, Sant Vicenç de Castellet, Sant Fruitós del Bages and Talamanca, started, explained this is the main line of investigation. The author of this arson has not yet been identified yet, but the found evidence proves it was clearly intentional. The Rural Agents will now work with the Mossos d'Esquadra Catalan police.
An arsonist started the Pont de Vilomara wildfire
Natural causes, such as a lightning strike —a theory discarded the same night of the fire—, or the possibility of an accident or negligence, have gone out the window. The theory that circulated at the Sant Vicenç de Castellet advanced command centre and that several sources expressed to ElNacional.cat is confirmed: an arsonist started the fatal wildfire at the Pont de Vilomara.
The who and how are missing. Rural Agents have identified the exact area where the flames started, on the border between the towns of Pont de Vilomara and Sant Vicenç de Castellet, and their investigations, which started when the fire had already advanced and they were able to access the area safely, revealed the area was prepared to start the fire. The Rural Agents did not give details on whether it was started with accelerators or other products, taking into account that the investigation is under legal proceedings. When they can clarify who did it and how, they will inform the judge.
Another arson attack in Sant Vicenç de Castellet
On the other hand, the fire that started on July 12th in the Sant Vicenç de Castellet antennas area, next to the aforementioned wildfire, was also arson. It is suspected that the same person started both wildfires. A joint investigation by the Rural Agents and the Mossos d'Esquadra has been launched to investigate the facts. However, the one in El Pont de Vilomara and this one have different patterns. The first one was at night, in an urban area. The Pont de Vilomara fire, on the other hand, while also at night, was in a remote area.
The Manresa fire, caused by an electrocuted bird
The Rural Agents also made clear that the fire next to the Manresa's Bufalvent industrial estate, and near the Pont de Vilomara wildfire, that yesterday afternoon stretched the Fire Brigade yet again, was apparently not caused by arson. A bird hit a power line and was electrocuted. When it fell to the ground, it started the fire.
The wildfire burned throughout the afternoon, moving rapidly, but contained within a limited area and unlikely to spill out further. It was stabilized early in the evening, after burning around fifty hectares. The outbreak of another fire next to an ongoing one, with no connection between the two that might suggest a secondary source, set off all the alarms. Rural Agents and the Mossos already suspected what was confirmed today: an arsonist was the cause of the wildfires in the Bages area. A third fire which broke out yesterday, in Navarcles, a nearby town, and could only be successfully tackled by two teams is also being investigated.
Pont de Vilomara, the worst fire
The Pont de Vilomara wildfire has burned over 1,700 hectares in several Bages towns and most critically affected two housing estates, especially River Park, where the fire destroyed over 40 houses and dozens of yards and verandas. At around half past three on Sunday, the flames reached the houses. Jaume, one of the neighbours who lived through it, locked himself in his house to protect it, and shared his experience with ElNacional.cat. The fire is now under control, although in the last few hours there have been new outbreaks all around its perimeter, which the firefighters have been able to put out and control. Tonight, several ground crews of the Catalan Fire Brigade will remain on the spot to spray water over the remaining hot spots.