Exceptional measures in place until midnight on Tuesday
The government has declared a Situation of Alert for the whole of mainland Portugal from 1pm today until 11.59pm on Tuesday with exceptional measures due to the worsening danger of rural fires.
In a statement, several ministries emphasise that a number of exceptional measures will be implemented, including bans:
- on access, movement and permanence within certain forest areas
- on burning and burning of farm leftovers
- on working in forest areas using any type of machinery (with the exception of rural firefighting situations).
It is also forbidden to work in the countryside using strimmers with metal blades or discs, bush cutters, shredders and/ or machines with blades or front shovels.
The use of fireworks or other pyrotechnic devices is also prohibited, including any authorisations (for festivals/ parties) that might be in place.
The Declaration of Situation of Alert has been jointly issued by the ministers of Internal Administration, National Defence, Health, Infrastructure and Housing, Labour, Solidarity and Social Security, Environment and Energy and Agriculture and Fisheries.
The move stems from the raising of the special alert status of the Integrated Protection and Relief Operations System (SIOPS) and the need to adopt preventive and special reaction measures in the face of the High, Very High and Maximum fire risk forecast by the Portuguese Institute for the Sea and Atmosphere (IPMA) in a large part of mainland Portugal.
Temperatures are expected to remain in the low to mid-30s (depending on regions) until Wednesday, with the added ‘complication’ of high winds in some areas, and low humidity, almost everywhere, making dry land even more inflammable.
The last few days (in which temperatures have been unusually high) have seen a number of vicious wildfires in the north and central regions.
Right now, according to SIC Notícias, the fires that are causing the main concerns are in Sever de Vouga and Fafe.
In Sever de Vouga flames have been consuming forestland since 2.17am and are being fought by 50 vehicles, around 170 operatives and five aerial resources, an ANEPC source told Lusa.
The National Road 16 (EN16) between Carvoeiro and Poço de Santiago has been closed, but there is no knowledge of homes at risk’.
Meantime, two fires are raging in Fafe – one of which in Cruz de Carrelhas, which started at 22 minutes past midnight, involves 49 vehicles, four aircraft and more than 160 firefighters.
Also in Fafe, a fire that broke out in Soutelo on Friday is once again active, being fought by 15 vehicles, two aerial resources and more than 150 firefighting men and woman.
As of 11am today, 17 rural fires were active, ‘many of them still on alert’, with firefighters on their way to the various scenes.
A blistering fire in Silvares, Fundão (Castelo Branco), has been contained since Saturday, but 170 firefighters and 58 vehicles are still on site carrying out prevention, surveillance and perimeter stabilisation activities.
In other words, by 11am today, 1,250 firefighters were already involved in firefighting operations on the mainland – aided by almost 370 vehicles and 19 firefighting aircraft. There won’t be much left in the way of aerial resources, hence the absolute necessity to clamp down on any and all activity that could inadvertently start another wildfire. ND
Source material: LUSA
