Seven fire outbreaks were detected in just two hours on Thursday late afternoon/evening in the municipal areas of Vilanova d'Escornalbou, Pratdip and Colldejou, in the Baix Camp. The sequence of fires has remained under investigation after remains of an artifact were located in one of the points where the flames did not manage to spread.
The first alert came in at 18:11 hours due to the presence of three outbreaks near the access road to the castle monastery of Escornalbou, in Vilanova d'Escornalbou. Bombers de la Generalitat mobilized eight ground units and declared the service controlled at 19:16 hours.
New notices in Pratdip and Colldejou
Less than an hour later, a second episode was registered. At 20:07 hours, the alert was received for three other outbreaks in the Palma Negra ravine, in Pratdip. At this point, four units of Bombers worked.
The third alert arrived at 21:10 hours due to a new fire in Coll de Guix, in Colldejou. In this case, two crews intervened, who managed to extinguish it.
One of the elements that now centers the investigations is the discovery of remains of an artifact in one of the points where the fire did not reach to burn. That clue has reinforced the open line of investigation to clarify the origin of the outbreaks detected in the area.
Search for evidence on the ground
"The investigation is open" - Mossos d'Esquadra
During Friday, Mossos d'Esquadra and Agents Rurals deployed evidence search tasks on the ground. Among the means used were precursor detection dogs, as part of the inspection work in the different scenarios where the fires were declared.
The investigation points to an alleged perpetrator who would know the area well and who possibly would have moved in an all-terrain vehicle or on a motorcycle. For now, no arrests have been reported and the proceedings remain open to determine the authorship of events that consecutively affected three municipalities in the interior of Baix Camp.