The data for the year 2024 was disclosed today by the Office of the Prosecutor General of the Republic (PGR), which stated that the numbers for this year are not yet available.
Last year, 5,572 investigations into forest fire crimes were opened, resulting in 299 charges, equivalent to 5.4%, while provisional suspensions were applied in 446 cases.
The PGR also reported that 4,747 investigations were archived, representing 85% of all investigations initiated.
Reviewing last year’s data and the Public Prosecutor’s reports from previous years shows a reduction in the number of opened investigations from 2022 to 2024.
“The trend of increasing inquiries into forest fire crimes has reversed,” states the report published last year about 2023. In 2022, the Public Prosecutor’s Office initiated 8,588 inquiries, and in 2023, it opened 7,367 inquiries.
Mainland Portugal has been severely affected by large-scale rural fires since July, particularly in the North and Central regions.
The fires resulted in four fatalities, including a firefighter, and various injuries, some severe, besides the total or partial destruction of primary and secondary residences, along with agricultural, livestock operations, and forest areas.
Portugal activated the European Civil Protection Mechanism, providing access to two Fire Boss planes, one Super Puma helicopter, and two Canadair planes.
According to provisional official data, approximately 250,000 hectares have burned in the country to date, with more than 57,000 hectares lost in the fire that started in Arganil alone.
