The entire east coast of Spain woke up to an eerie, smoke-filled sky on Tuesday morning, July 8. A hazy orange sun shone through thick air that smelled of burning wood, sparking confusion and concern from Valencia to Murcia. Social media quickly filled with posts from people trying to work out the source of the smoke. The answer lay hundreds of kilometres to the north, a large and fast-moving forest fire near Paüls in the province of Tarragona.

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Fire Burns Over 3,000 Hectares and Remains Active

The fire, which broke out on Monday afternoon, July 7, in the Baix Ebre region of southern Cataluña, has already scorched over 3,100 hectares of mostly forest land. Emergency crews have been working around the clock, but the blaze remains uncontained. Strong winds, rough terrain, and heavy smoke are making it difficult for firefighters and aircraft to operate safely.

One of the main concerns is stopping the flames from crossing the River Ebro and spreading into the Serra de Cardó and the highly protected Els Ports Natural Park. Over 1,100 hectares within the park have already burned.

Nunca había visto nada así. Murcia amanece envuelta por una densa nube de humo. El ambiente es irrespirable.

Al parecer la causa es el incendio forestal de Tarragona, ¡a más de 500 kilómetros! Lo que le estamos haciendo al planeta lo vamos a pagar muy caro. pic.twitter.com/DcCAQZNVDY

— Víctor Egío (@EgioVictor) July 8, 2025

18,000 Residents Ordered to Stay Indoors

As a safety measure, Civil Protection authorities ordered around 18,000 people in eight nearby towns and villages to stay indoors. The lockdown affects Paüls, Xerta, Alfara de Carles, Aldover, Tivenys, Roquetes, and the neighbourhoods of Bitem, Jesús, and Els Reguers in Tortosa. Movement is also limited in the towns of Pinell de Brai and Prat de Comte.

The decision to confine residents is part of the firefighters’ strategy to protect the public while they focus on containing the flames, according to Interior Minister Núria Parlon. The lockdown will be reviewed as weather conditions evolve.

Hola chicas, en las Terres de l'Ebre (Tarragona), está pasando una desgracia y hay pocas ayudas, hay poca información y además hay poca visibilidad al problema.
Los pueblos vecinos están sufriendo un incendio grave que va avanzando a gran paso, ¡queremos visibilidad y ayuda! pic.twitter.com/ZeMuGZbsWb

— julia.0nline ݁⋆☾ ⋆ (@userrjjuliaa) July 8, 2025

Emergency Crews Face Major Obstacles

Firefighters are facing extreme conditions on the ground. The rough and mountainous terrain is slowing the deployment of hoses and equipment, while heavy smoke is grounding water-dropping aircraft. A change in wind direction remains one of the biggest concerns, as it could send the fire into new areas and make it even harder to control.

Firefighters say the situation remains unpredictable. This is not a typical fire, and strong winds and the shape of the landscape are making their work especially difficult. Officials hope to stabilise the fire by late evening, but stress that it all depends on how the wind behaves.

Smoke Drifts South, No Current Health Risk

While the flames remain far from Spain’s southern regions, the smoke has travelled more than 400 kilometres, blanketing cities like Valencia, Alicante, and even Murcia. In places like Lorca, the air was so thick that the castle skyline disappeared behind a wall of haze. Concerned residents flooded emergency phone lines with calls about the smoky air.

Authorities have confirmed that the smoke is from the Tarragona fire and not from a local blaze. So far, air quality monitors have not recorded dangerous levels of pollution. However, residents, especially those in vulnerable groups, are being advised to stay indoors, close windows, and avoid unnecessary outdoor activity.

¿De dónde viene este olor a quemado y este humo? Tras comprobar que no hay ningún incendio por esta zona y a juzgar por el viento que tenemos, todo apunta a que nos está llegando el humo de los incendios que se están produciendo en Tarragona. Fotos: Cristina, Louisse y Adrián. pic.twitter.com/gWe2KEGp3W

— Proyecto Mastral (@ProyectoMastral) July 8, 2025

Roads Closed, Medical Services Relocated

Several regional roads remain closed, including parts of the C-12 and T-301 highways. Health officials have suspended all non-urgent medical appointments in the affected towns and relocated healthcare workers to nearby centres in safer areas to keep essential services running.

Government Requests Military Support

The Catalan government has officially requested assistance from Spain’s Military Emergency Unit (UME) as the fire continues to burn out of control. President Salvador Illa is travelling to Tortosa to meet with local mayors and coordinate further response efforts.

Officials remain cautiously hopeful that weather conditions, particularly the arrival of humid sea winds, may help slow the fire’s spread. However, they warn that there is still ‘a lot of work ahead’ and urge the public to stay alert and follow official advice.

Main image: X/@MeteoSE