The National Authority for Emergency and Civil Protection (ANEPC) sent text messages on Tuesday to alert the public to the “extreme risk of fire across much of the mainland territory.”
“Following the decision of the National Operational Coordination Center to raise to level IV the state of special readiness of the Rural Firefighting Device, ANEPC issued a warning via SMS to inform citizens about the high-risk situation of rural fires in some areas of mainland Portugal,” reads the statement on the ANEPC website.
It should be noted that the “warning message is issued from the sender AvisoPROCIV and includes a reference to an ANEPC contact number,” where citizens can “clarify doubts.”
© Reprodução Facebook/ ANEPC
On social media, ANEPC also reiterated: “Do not start fires and do not use machines in rural/forest areas,” warning that “any negligence can cause a large-scale fire.”
“With maximum risk, maximum care is required,” added the authority.
Fires? Alert situation ends Wednesday
The Minister of Internal Administration, Maria Lúcia Amaral, announced on Thursday, August 7, that the alert situation would be extended until August 13. Given the situation, “the same prohibitions and restrictions already in place regarding agricultural and recreational activities in rural areas continue to apply.”
The announcement was made during the briefing after the Council of Ministers, and the decision to extend this alert state was advanced mainly for two reasons.
“Because it was found that the alert situation and prohibitions contributed to a reduction in the number of ignitions. Secondly, because another worsening of weather conditions is anticipated for the coming days,” she justified at the time.
“The Council of Ministers decided to signal to all Portuguese people that the fire combat device remains mobilized and positioned with the same demand followed until today [August 7], without any reduction, without any weakening,” she added.
After the Council of Ministers, the government announced that the alert situation in the country has been extended for a week due to weather conditions, among other factors. The foreign law was also a topic, with the Minister of the Presidency ‘responding’ to the President of the Republic’s statements.
Ana Teresa Banha with Lusa | 15:21 – 07/08/2025
More than 130 municipalities at maximum fire risk
More than 130 municipalities in the interior North and Center of the country and the Algarve region and one in Alentejo are at maximum fire risk on Tuesday, according to the Portuguese Institute of the Sea and the Atmosphere (IPMA).
All municipalities in the districts of Bragança, Guarda, Viseu, and Castelo Branco and most of Vila Real and Faro are under maximum fire risk.
Dozens of other municipalities in the districts of Portalegre, Santarém, Coimbra, Leiria, Aveiro, Porto, Braga, and Viana do Castelo, as well as the Almodôvar municipality in Beja, are also at maximum risk.
About 50 municipalities in the districts of Viana do Castelo, Braga, Porto, Aveiro, Coimbra, Leiria, Lisbon, Portalegre, Beja, and Faro are at very high risk.
More than 130 municipalities in the interior North and Center of the country and the Algarve region and one in Alentejo are today at maximum fire risk, according to the Portuguese Institute of the Sea and the Atmosphere (IPMA).
Lusa | 07:27 – 12/08/2025
Orange warning extended until Thursday in 8 districts
It should also be noted that on Monday, the Portuguese Institute of the Sea and the Atmosphere (IPMA) extended the orange warning due to heat in twelve districts, with most being until the end of the day on Thursday.
Twelve districts of mainland Portugal are under orange warning due to heat, most until the end of Thursday, announced today the Portuguese Institute of the Sea and the Atmosphere (IPMA).
Lusa | 21:48 – 11/08/2025
