Portugal will receive two ‘Canadair’ aircraft from Morocco on Monday to assist in fighting rural fires following the breakdown of the planes operating in the country, as announced by the Ministry of Internal Administration.
The two ‘Canadair’ planes assigned to the Special Device for Combating Rural Fires (DECIR) have become inoperable. There is a third aircraft available for potential replacements, but it is also out of service, as confirmed by a source from the National Emergency and Civil Protection Authority (ANEPC) to Lusa.
“Following the breakdowns of the two Canadair planes leased by the Portuguese authorities to fight rural fires, the Ministry of Internal Administration immediately activated the bilateral cooperation mechanism – in civil protection matters – established with the Kingdom of Morocco to address this gap,” stated the ministry led by Maria Lúcia Amaral in a communiqué to Notícias ao Minuto.
Morocco “responded promptly, providing two ‘Canadair’ aircraft that will arrive in the national territory today and will be integrated into the Special Device for Combating Rural Fires (DECIR) until the end of this week,” it added.
These aircraft will be operational from Monte Real Air Base.
The Ministry of Internal Administration highlights that an initial bilateral solution was sought with Spain, but “this was not possible due to the worsening rural fire situation in that country.”
According to ANEPC, notes the Government, “the identified malfunctions in the aircraft require a technical intervention, and their reintegration into the national device is planned by the end of this week.”
A Portuguese Air Force (FAP) spokesperson, responsible for the process of contracting aerial firefighting resources, stated to Lusa that the companies responsible for leasing and operating the planes must replace the ‘Canadair’ out of service and are subject to penalties if they do not comply with the contracts.
Regarding the reasons for the malfunctions, the FAP referred to the companies for information disclosure.
Avincis, the company responsible for the ‘Canadair’ operating in Portugal, stated that it is working to bring “as quickly as possible” two aircraft to Portugal as replacements for those that are inoperative.
The company did not provide specific dates for the aircrafts’ arrival in Portugal, nor did it clarify when or why the heavy firefighting planes became inoperative.
Portugal is on alert due to the risk of fires, and several fires have erupted in the north and center of the country in recent weeks, consuming nearly 60,000 hectares this year.
The Government, on behalf of the Ministry of Internal Administration, “greatly appreciates the prompt cooperation from the Kingdom of Morocco and reaffirms its commitment to ensuring the necessary operational response to protect people, property, and the national territory.”
[Updated at 18:37]
