fires. “The Volta a Portugal returns to the year, this slope will start to recover in 15”, says Mayor of Manteigas – Observer
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Flávio Massano, mayor of Manteigas, where more than a thousand hectares have already burned in the Serra da Estrela Natural Park, criticizes the fire-fighting strategy that broke out this Saturday in Covilhã, noting that there is poor management of air resources.
“There are airs highlighted to be a very important help to fight the fire, but that ten this morning, when the municipality of Covilhã is unloaded, there was no fire. All discharges were made in the municipality of Covilhã, namely in an area closer to Penhas da Saúde, where the Volta a Portugal would later pass”, they said in statements to Rádio Observador.
Fire in Covilhã has already caused a burnt area of 1,000 to 1,500 hectares. Expect it to be under control this morning.
“The truth is that we are left with a bitter taste. Why should there be air assets in the territory and no discharge being made in an area that we knew would burn?”, questioned the mayor.
The third stage of the 83rd Cycle Tour of Portugal kept its original route, despite the fire, but for Flávio Massano “how could it not have been done otherwise”, rejecting the idea that it should have been postponed.
“The Volta a Portugal can happen this year, next month or next year, this slope will take 15, 20 or 30 years to recover. The Tour of Portugal for the year will pass again, but this slope, which for us is the Serra da Estrela jump, 15 or 20 years from now will not be there.”
In statements to SIC Notícias, the Covilhã Fire Brigade, Luís Marques, explained the commander’s fire, saying “it was aligned with the wind and the thermal load was very low” and, as such, the strategy “non-circulating air assets to enter this zone”. “The fire accelerated, the means were determined the strategic plan, but the meteorological factors did not confirm”, he added.