Firefighting planes continue to attack the ‘head’ of the main fire-front that has bored its way through the Mata Nacional de Barão de São João from the municipality of Aljezur to reach the tip of the west Algarve village of the same name.
The village is ‘safe’. Residents have returned – but advice from civil protection is that the next few hours will be critical.
Strong winds are still blowing. Hotspots the length of this fire that broke out at lunchtime yesterday are causing reignitions, and all caution is necessary.
Whatsapp groups created for citizens to keep each other informed are already organising ‘shifts’ for locals to watch over areas that have been burned to ensure no new fires spring up. There are even posts advising people on how best to put out a ‘flare-up’ if firefighters are not immediately at the scene.
“This fire is very directed by the wind”, civil protection specialist André Morais has been telling SIC. “This will make the work of consolidation and dampening down very much more difficult, and time consuming”.
Another issue will be the projections (flaming material) sent out by the fire, which is still blazing inside the Mata Nacional in certain areas of difficult access.
As SIC stresses: “André Morais underlines the importance of citizens being aware and informed” – not just about the fire, but on how to behave. “We cannot drop our guard”, warned Morais. The next week, with so many smoking hotspots, will need everyone’s full attention.
Meanwhile, in a press conference today, Civil Protection commander Abel Gomes confirmed that concerns now are that this fire doesn’t drift westwards. The challenge for firefighters, he stressed, is immense.
Only the next few hours will show where things are headed. A new press conference should be held mid-afternoon.
