The regional socialist structure expressed concern over the lack of two aerial means for the initial combat of fires across 13 municipalities in Beja district, under the jurisdiction of the Baixo Alentejo Sub-Regional Emergency and Civil Protection Command.
In Beja, which comprises 14 municipalities, only Odemira is not included in this sub-regional command, instead falling under the Alentejo Litoral Sub-Regional Emergency and Civil Protection Command.
According to PS Baixo Alentejo, there is increasing concern as 632 hectares have already burned across 96 rural fires this year in the Beja district.
“These numbers greatly exceed those from the same period in 2024, with the burned area 46% higher and the number of ignitions 33% greater,” they compared.
With the risk of fires rising “significantly,” the socialist federation noted that firefighters feel the absence of aerial support in tackling the flames.
“The local authorities, who have provided all human, material, and financial resources to ensure the operability of the aircraft, petitioned the Government and responsible authorities and were only told that the means would arrive with a month’s delay,” stated the PS.
Therefore, the socialist federation expressed support for “all actions by their local officials aimed at demanding an immediate resolution to this issue,” as “the region cannot wait another month for the aircrafts’ arrival.”
On Tuesday, officials from the municipalities of Grândola (CDU) in Setúbal, Ourique, and Moura (both PS) in Beja, highlighted the lack of aerial fire-fighting resources and called for an urgent solution.
The placement of helicopters at the Municipal Aerodromes (CMA) in these three Alentejo municipalities (one per municipality) was scheduled for the 1st of this month, as part of the 2025 Special Rural Fire Fighting Device (DECIR).
Following this alert, the Setúbal District Firefighters Federation criticized the “continuing” absence of helicopters in Grândola and Ourique, demanding the “immediate deployment” of operational aerial resources to combat rural fires.
The Alentejo Litoral Intermunicipal Community (CIMAL) and coastal Alentejo officials also criticized, on Wednesday, the “18-day delay” in deploying firefighting aircraft in Grândola and Ourique, accusing the Government of risking a vast forest heritage.
On Wednesday, when questioned, the National Emergency and Civil Protection Authority (ANPC) informed that the current rural fire-fighting effort includes 67 aerial assets, nine fewer than anticipated for this phase of the device.
The Civil Protection’s response to questions only mentioned locations with aerial means, without detailing the missing aircraft.
Efforts to obtain a response from the Portuguese Air Force, responsible for hiring aerial firefighting resources, about the shortage of aircraft were unsuccessful.
