Catalan Firefighter Warns Pyrenees Wildfires Turning Sixth-Generation in Andorra

A Catalan firefighter has warned that intensifying wildfires in the Pyrenees, including Andorra, are evolving into uncontrollable "sixth-generation" blazes driven by denser forests, rural abandonment, and climate change.

Ferran Garcia, from the Catalan government's Forest Action Group (GRAF), spoke on Friday at the Energy and Sustainable Cities Days in Sant Julià de Lòria. He described how increased forest biomass—now far greater than 50 years ago—provides more fuel for fires, worsened by drier conditions from rising temperatures. "The Pyrenees had always been a cooler, wetter ecosystem that didn't burn like the Mediterranean climate," Garcia said. "Now, due to climate change, we can see that it does."

This year marked the Pyrenees' first convective fire near Senet in Ribagorça, where extreme heat interacted with the atmosphere to create self-sustaining weather conditions. Such sixth-generation fires exceed firefighting capabilities, regardless of added aircraft or ground crews, Garcia explained. He identified them as a recent European phenomenon emerging since 2017, with the region now facing this shift.

Prevention must prioritize territory management over extinction efforts. Creating fuel breaks—using existing features like roads, rivers, or streets—allows firefighters to halt flames. In Andorra's steep terrain, where tree removal is challenging, Garcia advocated boosting livestock farming. "A farmer with a herd of cows is doing work for society, because those cows are eating fuel," he said, urging authorities to support ranchers and farmers.

Residents in mountain areas should adopt self-protection measures, such as clearing vegetation around homes, maintaining defensible spaces, and avoiding combustible piles like firewood stacks. Firefighters prioritize rescues in major blazes, diverting resources from fire lines.

Garcia called for Andorra to leverage Catalonia's expertise, noting ongoing collaboration: Andorran specialists train with GRAF and join controlled burns tailored to local conditions.

Sant Julià de Lòria senior consul Cerni Cairat pointed to the parish's efforts, including tripling its forest management budget last year with plans to continue. "Working in the forests protects us and mitigates natural risks," he said.

FEDA director general Sílvia Calvó addressed broader adaptation, as recurring heatwaves may boost summer air conditioning and shift energy patterns. The utility is strengthening its grid for climate resilience.