The National Authority for Emergency and Civil Protection (ANEPC) has heightened the readiness level of fire-fighting resources in the North, Center, and subregions of Médio Tejo and Alto Alentejo, as announced today by the agency’s deputy.
“The National Authority for Emergency and Civil Protection has decided to increase its special readiness state to level 3 for the entire North region, Center region, the Médio Tejo subregion [of the Lisbon and Tagus Valley region], and the Alto Alentejo subregion [of the Alentejo region],” announced Carlos Pereira, a deputy operations officer of ANEPC, at a press conference.
Speaking at the agency’s operations headquarters in Oeiras, he justified the decision due to the “increase in temperature and wind intensity” and the subsequent “aggravation of the fire danger for the coming days.”
The measure involves reinforcing the pre-positioning of ground resources in the North, Center, and Algarve regions.
In the remaining national territory, the special readiness level remains at level 2, the operations deputy added.
Carlos Pereira also urged the population to avoid “moving in forest areas,” refrain from making “any kind of burns,” and be cautious with “agricultural work in rural areas.”
According to data from the Portuguese Institute of the Sea and the Atmosphere (IPMA), almost all municipalities in the northern and central interior and seven municipalities in the Faro district are at maximum risk of rural fire today.
In mainland northern and central Portugal, all municipalities in the districts of Bragança and Guarda, most municipalities in Castelo Branco, as well as areas in Coimbra, Santarém, and Portalegre, are at maximum fire risk.
In the Faro district, the municipalities of Lagos, Portimão, Monchique, Silves, Loulé, São Brás de Alportel, and Tavira are under maximum fire risk.
Throughout mainland Portugal, only the municipality of Esposende (Braga) does not present a fire risk.
According to IPMA calculations, the rural fire danger will remain high in the coming days in these same northern and central interior regions and the Algarve.
