Over the last two months, the youngsters engaged in forest surveillance as part of fire prevention campaign.

In the months of July and August, and for the 17th consecutive year, Loulé City Council promoted the “Forest Surveillance – Young Volunteers” programme aimed at young people during the school holidays.

The activity, carried out through the Municipal Civil Protection Service, with the support of the parish councils of Alte, Ameixial, Salir, and União de Freguesias Querença, Tôr, and Benafim. The event was joined by 56 youngsters aged 12 to 17, organized into eight Brigades with seven members each, and overseen by a monitor.

The Brigades carried out surveillance every other day for two weeks, with walks through rural areas in the different parishes of the municipality of Loulé.

The primary objective was to prevent and identify forest fires, increase public awareness, and educate the community, while also focusing on understanding forest fires, outdoor excursions, and respecting the natural environment.

The initiative also emphasised the importance of interpersonal connections within the group.

Participants were able to tour the Advanced Civil Protection Unit in Vale Maria Dias after each Brigade, engaging with the Municipal Forest Intervention Teams and Forest Sappers.

At a crucial moment for wildfires, the youth were offered the chance to directly engage with the tools used by the National Republican Guard (GNR) teams and horse brigade working in unison for the same cause.