Arson so often found to be cause of Portugal’s wildfires
Half of the 175 fires registered across the country between the beginning of Monday and 11am today were night-time occurrences, ANEPC, National Emergency and Civil Protection Authority, has admitted.
At a press conference at the organisation’s headquarters in Oeiras, Lisbon district, Commander Mário Silvestre stated that 124 incidents were recorded on Monday and 51 more between midnight and 11am today.
According to the official, “50.8% of the incidents in these two days and so far are nighttime incidents”, he said, adding that at midday, the fire causing authorities the most concern is the one in Arouca, with the situation in Lindoso/ Ponte da Barca and Penamacor “quite under control”.
In the case of Arouca, Aveiro district, the fire resulted from “three consecutive occurrences”, with response to the first two having “very good efficiency”, but not to the third, in the town of Espiunca, due to the speed with which flames spread.
“In an area of mature eucalyptus forest, with enclosed valleys”, the blaze is releasing energy of 20,000 kilowatts/meter, said Silvestre, explaining that this is just too much to control.
For a blaze to have what Silvestre calls “extinguishing capacity”, energy released cannot exceed 4,000 kilowatts/ meter.
In this context, combat on the ground is, at this point, mainly trying to mitigate the fire, working and modulating it “from the flanks”.
The Lindoso/Ponte da Barca (Viana do Castelo) fire, which consumed “around 2,000 hectares” between Saturday night and 8am today, “has stabilised”, he said, with “consolidation work continuing”.
In Penamacor, Castelo Branco district, “only 30%” of the fire is active, with 511 hectares already burned.
The ANEPC commander also renewed appeals for people “not to use fire” in outdoor settings.
Without referring to arson which has dogged wildfires in Portugal since as long as anyone can remember, Mário Silvestre simply said: “We cannot have 50% of our incidents at night.”
Expresso meantime has suggested that drones could be being used to start fires: the origin of the Lindoso fire in Ponte da Barca is being investigated by PJ police on these grounds.
The fire in Ponte da Barca has been active for three consecutive days. At this point, there are nearly 400 firefighters involved, supported by two aircraft and more than 120 land vehicles.
Source material: LUSA/ SIC Notícias
