The Minister of Internal Administration, Maria Lúcia Amaral, announced this Saturday, in a conference from the Palácio de São Bento, the declaration of a “state of alert in the entire continental territory,” which is effective from midnight and will continue until 11:59 PM on Thursday, August 7.
“This decision is due to the persistence of very high temperatures, low humidity levels, and the need to adopt preventive and special response measures to the risk of fire in much of the continental territory,” stated the minister.
Maria Lúcia Amaral further warned that “next week will be difficult.”
The minister listed various prohibitions that will come into effect: prohibition of access, circulation, and stay within forest spaces, prohibition of burning and fires (even those already authorized), prohibition of work in forest and rural spaces using machinery, and prohibition of the use of fireworks or pyrotechnic devices (even those already authorized).
Maria Lúcia Amaral delivered a message of “appreciation, recognition, and gratitude” to all professionals on the ground fighting the fires.
“I ask that you trust our firefighters, our Civil Protection, and our authorities. All of them together have done an extraordinary and tireless job on the ground. To all, I send a word of sincere appreciation, recognition, and profound gratitude,” she said, also asking the Portuguese “to respect the indications and guidelines of the competent authorities; to respect the prohibitions and avoid any practices that may cause fires.”
The government declared a “state of alert in the entire continental territory” from 12:00 AM Sunday, August 3, to 11:59 PM Thursday, August 7. The meteorological forecasts for the coming days indicate a significant worsening of the risk of rural fires.
Notícias ao Minuto | 13:50 – 02/08/2025
It should be noted that the majority of districts in the regions of the North, Center, and Algarve are currently at maximum fire risk according to data from the Portuguese Institute of the Sea and the Atmosphere (IPMA).
In Northern and Central Portugal, almost all municipalities in the districts of Bragança, Vila Real, Viseu, Guarda, Castelo Branco, Coimbra, and Santarém are at maximum fire risk.
The districts of Coimbra and Portalegre also have several municipalities under this IPMA alert.
In the district of Faro, the municipalities of Monchique, Portimão, Silves, Loulé, São Brás de Alportel, and Tavira are also at maximum fire risk.
Only a few municipalities on the coast of the country, notably in the districts of Lisbon, Setúbal, Porto, and Aveiro, are at moderate fire risk.
The majority of districts in the regions of the North, Center, and Algarve are currently under maximum fire risk, according to data from the Portuguese Institute of the Sea and the Atmosphere (IPMA).
Lusa | 10:09 – 02/08/2025
[Updated at 1:49 PM]
