“As far as our resources in the sub-region are concerned, in terms of suppression, we maintain the same resources. There was no increase or decrease in resources” for fighting fires, said the Sub-regional Emergency and Civil Protection Commander of Médio Tejo, which covers 11 municipalities in the district of Santarém.
David Lobato was speaking at the presentation of DECIR 2025, which took place in Vila Nova da Barquinha.
The operational device of Médio Tejo will have approximately 620 operatives, 250 vehicles, and two permanent aerial means at its disposal during the most critical phase, totaling 22 aircraft allocated to adjacent sub-regions, in addition to three trail machines.
There is also support from human and material resources from various entities, such as the Institute for the Conservation of Nature and Forests, the Emergency Protection and Rescue Unit (UEPS)/GNR, Afocelca—a company for Forest Protection dedicated to combating rural fires—and municipalities. They are supported by new technologies, with decision-support systems through georeferencing and real-time monitoring of wind and terrain conditions.
David Lobato noted that, in addition to over 600 operatives during the Delta phase, from July 1 to September 30, “the sub-region has about 900 active firefighters who can also be mobilized if the need arises” for support.
For the operational commander, the resources included in the Médio Tejo combat device “are sufficient” for the territory it covers.
However, he explained that this year, the total number of teams, elements, and vehicles “is less than in 2024” because “monitoring and detection means,” which are not for combat, “are now part of their own directive under GNR and not civil protection.”
“The analysis that was carried out suggests these resources are sufficient for our historical context, and we maintain the same personnel, the same combat resources, and the dynamic has not changed,” he stated, emphasizing that the device is based on premises that will remain, such as “pre-positioning of resources,” “permanent monitoring,” “early detection,” and “immediate, robust dispatch of means” to attack a fire in its initial phase.
The operational commander also recalled that, out of the 237 ignitions in the sub-region in 2024, only seven were not extinguished in an initial phase, resulting in a larger burned area.
“Last year we had 237 ignitions with a 97% success rate, with seven fires surpassing 90 minutes, the period in which it becomes an extended attack. We always try to put the maximum capacity into initial phase combat,” he stated, adding that a fire “always starts small,” so if resources are present, they can “extinguish it rapidly.”
David Lobato attributed many causes of fire to external factors that firefighters cannot control, such as acts of negligence or arson.
“Last year we had 237 ignitions, 50% of which were intentional, and this is a problem. In the seven largest fires, the causes were intentional and resulted in the largest burned area,” he noted, mentioning that this issue falls under the jurisdiction of the police authorities.
On the other hand, civil protection and the municipalities are working to minimize negligent causes and, consequently, reduce the number of ignitions, he stated.
The official also referred to improvements in the 2024 device, such as “proximity and strengthening of synergies with the municipal level,” “use of retardant products in aerial means,” “optimization of aerial data collection through multispectral images,” and “digitization of processes associated with the Operational Command Post.”
The sub-regional command of Médio Tejo covers the municipalities of Abrantes, Alcanena, Constância, Entroncamento, Ferreira do Zêzere, Mação, Ourém, Sardoal, Tomar, Torres Novas, and Vila Nova da Barquinha.
