Between January 1 and August 20, most arrests related to forest fires in Portugal were conducted in coordination with the National Republican Guard (GNR), with 25 suspects apprehended in August alone, as detailed in statements by the Judicial Police (PJ).
While the PJ led several investigations resulting in arrests, the GNR reported 42 arrests for offenses discovered in flagrante delicto from January 1 to August 13, including the identification of 566 forest fire crime suspects.
In total, the PJ and GNR have detained at least 94 people this year, closely approaching the 99 arrests recorded in 2024 by the PJ, GNR, and PSP, according to the 2024 Annual Internal Security Report (RASI).
The GNR documented 5,996 forest fires, assessing that 30.2% were caused by fire use, 24% were due to arson, 23.2% had undetermined causes, 14.5% were accidental, 6.6% were due to reignition, 1% were natural, and 0.5% were structural.
Regarding convictions and preventive measures, the Directorate-General for Reintegration and Prison Services (DGRSP) revealed that 109 individuals are incarcerated in Portugal for forest fire-related offenses—42 convicted, 24 deemed not accountable, 39 awaiting trial in preventive detention, and 4 awaiting final sentencing.
Last year, as per the RASI, 24 individuals were held in preventive detention, and 859 were formally charged.
Continental Portugal has faced multiple rural fires since July, particularly in the North and Center regions, amidst high temperatures, prompting a state of alert declaration starting August 2.
The fires resulted in three fatalities, including a firefighter, numerous injuries mostly minor, and destruction or damage to primary and secondary residences, alongside agricultural and livestock properties and forested areas.
Portugal utilized the European Union Civil Protection Mechanism, securing two Fire Boss aircraft to bolster firefighting efforts.
Provisional official data indicates that over 201,000 hectares have burned by August 19, surpassing the total area burned in 2024.
