With the arrival of summer and warm weather comes increased risk, including a higher threat of wildfires and various alerts. It is important to remember that setting fires is a crime, as is causing a fire through negligence.
Information shared on the official government page emphasizes, “provoking a fire due to lack of care or disrespect for safety rules is also a crime.”
What does the law say? And what are the penalties?
Article 274 of the Penal Code punishes the crime of fire caused by negligence, with penalties ranging from a fine to imprisonment for up to three years.
The penalty can become more severe “if the fire endangers lives or high-value property,” increasing to two to ten years of imprisonment.
The government warns of risky behaviors, reminding that “burnings, bonfires, and improperly extinguished cigarettes can cause tragedies.”
Burned Area in 2025 Nearly Tripled Compared to Same Period in 2024
It should be noted that the burned area this year almost tripled compared to the same period in 2024, with rural fire incidents up by 68%, according to statistics from the Integrated Rural Fire Management System (SGIFR).
The new SGIFR portal, managed by the Agency for the Integrated Management of Rural Fires (AGIF), indicates that between January 1 and July 11 (Friday), 3,202 rural fires broke out and consumed 9,974 hectares. In the same period last year, there were 1,902 fires and 3,246 hectares burned.
According to the data, the majority of rural fires this year occurred in the North region, with 1,761 incidents, followed by Lisbon and Tagus Valley (521), Center (460), Alentejo (334), and Algarve (127).
The highest burned areas were in Alentejo (4,616 hectares) and the North (4,591), followed by the Center (602), Lisbon and Tagus Valley (145), and Algarve (21 hectares).
The burned area this year almost tripled compared to the same period of 2024, with rural fire incidents up by 68%, according to statistics from the Integrated Rural Fire Management System (SGIFR).
Lusa | 08:06 – 12/07/2025
Do You Know What to Do in Case of Fire?
The National Emergency and Civil Protection Authority (ANEPC) provided several guidelines to the public on what to do in case of a fire.
If you are close to a fire, you should “immediately call 112 (emergency number). It is also advised that “if you are not in danger and have appropriate clothing (long-sleeved clothes, boots, and gloves), attempt to extinguish [the fire] with shovels, hoes, or branches.”
People are also advised not to hinder the efforts of firefighters, forest fire prevention teams, and other emergency services, and to follow issued instructions.
Vehicles in pathways leading to the fire should also be removed. Additionally, if you notice “individuals engaging in risky behaviors, inform the authorities.”
The arrival of summer and the heat also brings a higher risk of fires, and as such, the National Emergency and Civil Protection Authority offered some advice to the public on what to do in these situations.
Notícias ao Minuto | 09:46 – 07/07/2025
In 2024, the burned area was the largest in the last six years, with more than 14,000 hectares burning from 735 fires.
