A man was arrested on Tuesday for committing the crime of forest fire in the municipality of Leiria, announced the National Republican Guard (GNR).
In a statement released Wednesday, the authority explained that the “arrest occurred following a forest fire that broke out in the parish of Caranguejeira.”
Subsequently, members of the Environmental Protection Unit (NPA) determined that the fire originated from an out-of-control waste burn.
The suspect was detained and the facts were communicated to the Judicial Court of Leiria.
In the note, the GNR assured that it “remains vigilant in the prevention and combat of rural fires, actively contributing to the criminal accountability of their perpetrators and to the protection of people, property, and natural heritage.”
“The protection of people and property, in the context of rural fires, continues to be one of the priorities of the GNR, supported by a preventive approach and forest area patrol efforts,” it reads.
Therefore, the GNR reminds:
- Burns and bonfires are among the main causes of fires in Portugal;
- The conduct of bonfires, and the burning of piles and campfires is prohibited whenever there is a “very high” or “maximum” level of rural fire danger, and they are subject to authorization or prior notice at other times;
- To avoid accidents follow safety rules, always be accompanied, and carry a mobile phone.
It should be emphasized that mainland Portugal is on alert due to the high risk of fire. This measure has been in effect since 00:00 on Sunday and will continue until 23:59 on Thursday, August 7.
“Given the worsening weather forecasts pointing to a significant risk of rural fires, the Government decided to declare an alert situation throughout the mainland territory,” announced the Minister of Internal Administration, Maria Lúcia Amaral, on Saturday.
This year alone, forest fires have already consumed almost 42,000 hectares, eight times more than during the same period in 2024, and the highest value since 2022, according to the Integrated Rural Fire Management System (SGIFR).
The SGIFR statistics, managed by the Agency for Integrated Rural Fire Management (AGIF), indicate that since January 1, there have been 5,211 fires that have burned 41,644 hectares of land.
The SGIFR portal reports that 72% of the burned area and 53% of the fires this year occurred in the North region, where fires have been most intense in the last week in the districts of Viana do Castelo, Braga, Vila Real, and Porto.
According to the portal, more than half of the area was consumed by flames since July 26.
Compared to the same period in 2024, the number of fires has almost doubled this year, and the burned area is eight times larger. In 2024, by August 5, 4,671 hectares had burned, compared to 41,644 hectares this year.
However, the total burned area in 2024 was 147,000 hectares, 135,000 of which burned in just six days during the September fires.
