Portugal with the most fires in the last 24 hours
Portugal reached the maximum number of fires set this year on Friday, with 121 ignitions, the National Emergency and Civil Protection Authority (ANEPC) announced this Saturday, urging the population to be especially careful in the face of worsening heat.
In the briefing to the media, held at 12:00 at the organisation’s headquarters, in Carnaxide (Oeiras), Commander André Fernandes highlighted that there are fires causing confusion in the fight against the flames, namely in Ourém (Santarém district) de Ansiães (district Bragança) and Vale da Pia (District of Leiria).
“The situation is worsening, particularly in the southern region. We are experiencing an unprecedented situation from the meteorological point of view. It is increasing”, said the ANEPC official, noting that the 121 recorded ignitions “are the maximum this year”.
For fires, there are only 20% of our operators of 381 firefighters deployed, accompanied by 179 vehicles and six air assets.
In Carrazed de Ansiães, there are 139 vehicles and four aerial vehicles.
In Vale da Pia, which now has only one active sector, 173 firefighters, 74 vehicles and seven air assets are fighting the flames.
Six districts of mainland Portugal have been on orange alert, or second highest, since Friday, due to high risk of forest fires. Six other successes to special alert status.
Viseu, Vila Real, Bragança, Guarda, Castelo Branco and Santarém are the six original districts. Lisbon, Setúbal, Portalegre, Évora, Beja and Faro will be added, said the National Emergency and Civil Protection Commander, André Fernandes.
The alert situation decreed by the Government due to the “significant increase in the risk of rural fire” started at 00:00 on Friday and lasts until the 15th of July.