Madeira receives 80 firefighters from the Special Force in the next few hours

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Given the evolution of the situation and considering the weather conditions that are hindering the action of personnel on the ground, and after further contact with the Secretary of State for Civil Protection and the president of the National Civil Protection Authority, the Regional Government announces that all necessary logistics are currently underway to allow 80 members of the Special Firefighters Force to arrive in Madeira in the coming hours.

In the statement, the Regional Secretariat for Health and Civil Protection states that “this force of men will complement all the work being done on the ground by firefighters, Forest Police, and other entities involved in fighting this fire.”

“We further inform that in the last hour, resources on the ground have been reinforced and the forest intervention teams affiliated with the National Republican Guard have been activated,” the authority indicates, without specifying the number of resources.

The Madeira Regional Health Service (Sesaram) has made available two support lines for all users in the region, one provided by the psychology service, with the number 969320140, and the SRS 24h support line, provided by the family support office, with the number 800242420.

In statements to journalists in Curral das Freiras, Câmara de Lobos municipality, around 1:00 PM, the Regional Secretary for Health and Civil Protection said that about 50 families were receiving clinical, social, and psychological support in Curral das Freiras, Madeira, after being evacuated from their homes last night due to the fire affecting the parish.

The local health center and church are open to receive the population in need.

Access to the parish, located in the interior of the Câmara de Lobos municipality, has been restricted.

Funchal City Council removes animals from the municipal kennel as a precaution

The Funchal City Council, in Madeira, is preventively removing some animals from the Vasco Gil municipal kennel, following the fire that is ravaging the region, although it rules out “any imminent danger.”

According to Pedro Ramos, the fire, which started on Wednesday morning in Serra de Água, in the municipality of Ribeira Brava, was, at 1:00 PM, active in Encumeada, in that county, and in the parishes of Curral das Freiras and Jardim da Serra, in the neighboring municipality of Câmara de Lobos.

When questioned about the need for reinforcement of resources and the help that was made available by the Government of the Republic on Friday, the official reiterated at the time that it was not necessary, justifying that the region’s resources were not exhausted.

“We have 54 operatives on the ground, out of a total of 750 firefighters. We have 18 vehicles, out of a total of more than a hundred vehicles,” he pointed out then.

Fighting the various active fronts, according to the assessment made at 1:00 PM, were 54 operatives, supported by 18 vehicles and the helicopter of the Madeira Regional Civil Protection Service, in addition to elements of the PSP and the Institute of Forests and Nature Conservation.

The president of Chega/Madeira, a party represented in the regional parliament by four deputies, classified as “incomprehensible and irresponsible” the attitude of the President of the Madeira Government, Miguel Albuquerque, of only accepting help from the Republic “when the situation worsened.”

The CDS-PP, which has a parliamentary incidence agreement with the PSD in the Regional Legislative Assembly, today called for the reinforcement of resources to fight the fires, even before the announcement by the Madeiran executive.

JPP and IL have also expressed solidarity with the populations affected by the fire, as well as with all the operatives involved in the combat.

The leader of PS/Madeira, Paulo Cafôfo, had already criticized today the refusal to receive support from the Republic, announced on Friday night and reiterated this morning by a source from Albuquerque’s office. The socialist considered the decision “incomprehensible and irresponsible.”

On Friday, PAN expressed “its concern about the fires” and highlighted the “tireless work of the firefighters who are on the front line in fighting these flames.”

[News updated at 5:13 PM]

Hervé Hubert
Hervé Hubert
Hervé Hubert is a 55-year-old writer and journalist based in Porto, Portugal. Born in France, he brings a unique blend of French and Portuguese perspectives to his work. Education Hervé studied Journalism and Literature at the University of Lyon in France. After completing his studies, he gained valuable experience working with various French media outlets (Portugal France also). Career He worked for several years as a journalist in France before making the move to Portugal. In Porto, he joined the Portugal Pulse team as a staff writer. Skills Hervé specializes in storytelling, investigative journalism, and cultural commentary. He has a flair for capturing complex issues in a relatable way. Personal Life He currently resides in Porto and enjoys the city's rich culture, from Fado music to Francesinha cuisine. Hervé continues to maintain strong ties to his French heritage, often traveling back to France for family visits and cultural exploration. With his unique background and diverse skill set, Hervé Hubert adds a layered, multicultural lens to every story he covers.

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