Paüls
General information
- Category
- Wildfire
- Fire classification
- Overshooting PyroCu
- Country
- Catalonia, Spain
- Year
- 2025
© Catalan Fire and Rescue Service
© Catalan Fire and Rescue Service
The Pauls wildfire started on a day with moderate to strong north-westerly winds, in an area that was challenging to access due to its complex terrain. The rapid initial spread, coupled with the challenge of accessing the area promptly, hindered effective control within the crop zone. After this, it made significant topographical run, which produced enough intensity to generate a short-lived overshooting pyrocumulus. From that point on, the fire enters in a headwind dinamic, being anchored at the top of the ridge, making it difficult to attack. At the evening, wind speeds increased, expanding the fire and propelling it at speeds of up to 2500m/h, surpassing the containment lines, and during the night, reaching urbanised areas.
© Catalan Fire and Rescue Service
© Catalan Fire and Rescue Service
© Catalan Fire and Rescue Service
© Catalan Fire and Rescue Service
© Catalan Fire and Rescue Service
© Catalan Fire and Rescue Service
© Catalan Fire and Rescue Service
© Catalan Fire and Rescue Service
© Catalan Fire and Rescue Service
© Catalan Fire and Rescue Service
Fire behaviour and surface observations
| Start location lat | 40.918279 deg N |
| Start location lon | 0.419517 deg E |
| Start location name | Paüls |
| Start hour | 07/07/2025 10:28:00 (UTC) |
| Surface affected | 3140 ha |
| Fire behavior | Crown fire, high intensity |
| Torching head | 70 % |
| Torching flanks | 35 % |
| Flame length mean head | 10 m |
| Flame length max head | 35 m |
| Flame length mean flanks | 3 m |
| Flame length max flanks | 15 m |
| Spotting mean | 30 m |
| Spotting max | 1000 m |
| Rate of spread mean | 800 m/h |
| Rate of spread max | 2500 m/h |
| Burn ratio mean | 100 ha/h |
| Burn ratio max | 775 ha/h |
